AMERICUS, Ga. – The University of Mount Olive softball team opened tournament play Friday afternoon by splitting a doubleheader, falling 2-0 to Georgia Southwestern State University before bouncing back with a dominant 10-2 victory over Converse University in the Cougar-Hurricane Classic.
Game One: Georgia Southwestern 2, Mount Olive 0
The opener featured a pitcher's duel through the first three innings as Trojan starter Alex Steen and the Hurricanes' staff matched zeros early.
Mount Olive generated its first scoring opportunity in the second inning when Breanna Verme doubled to left field, while Emily Saw later added two singles to pace the Trojan offense. Despite collecting four hits and placing runners aboard in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, Mount Olive was unable to deliver the timely hit.
Georgia Southwestern broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning, using a two-out triple followed by an RBI double to account for the only runs of the contest and secure the 2-0 decision.
In the circle, Alex Steen (0-3) delivered a strong complete-game effort in the loss. Steen allowed two runs on five hits across 6.0 innings, striking out nine and walking one. The Trojan defense held the Hurricanes scoreless in six of seven frames.
Game Two: Mount Olive 10, Converse 2
The Trojans responded in emphatic fashion in the nightcap, erupting for 10 runs in the top of the first inning to seize control and never look back.
Mount Olive sent 16 batters to the plate in the opening frame, scoring 10 runs on six hits. Samantha Taylor highlighted the inning with a three-run homer, while Cadence Lane and Bri Verme each drove in two runs with singles. RBI walks by Mackenzie Millard, Samantha Taylor, and Liz Thome extended the advantage as the Trojans built a commanding 10-0 lead.
Converse answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, but that would be all the offense the Valkyries could generate.
After the explosive start, Mount Olive's pitching and defense took over. The Trojans limited Converse to just three hits and kept the Valkyries off the scoreboard over the final four innings to secure the run-rule victory.
Emma Myatt (2-0) earned the win after tossing 5.0 innings. She allowed two runs on three hits while striking out five and walking three.
With the split, Mount Olive concluded day one of tournament play and will look to carry the momentum from the run rule into tomorrow's games against Montevallo and Columbus State, beginning at 12:00 PM.