MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive softball program split its doubleheader with Wingate on Tuesday afternoon at Cassell Field, falling 6-0 in the opener before responding with a 3-1 victory in game two.
In game one, Wingate struck first in the top of the opening frame, capitalizing on a throwing error and an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. The Trojans were limited offensively throughout the contest despite collecting four hits. Mount Olive threatened in the second, third, and fourth innings but was unable to push a run across as Wingate's pitching staff worked out of traffic.
Hodge kept the Trojans within striking distance, retiring the side in order in both the third and fourth innings and allowing just one run through the first six frames she worked. The game shifted in the top of the seventh when Wingate used two walks and a two-run double to extend the lead to 3-0 before adding three more runs on a pair of singles, a hit-by-pitch, and a fielding error to secure the 6-0 result.
Emma Myatt (3-2) was charged with the loss after allowing one unearned run on three hits with two walks in 1.0 inning. Linda Hodge provided 5.1 innings of relief, surrendering five runs (two earned) on four hits with three strikeouts. Hailey King recorded the final two outs in the seventh.
Mount Olive responded in game two with force early on.  After a scoreless first inning, the Trojans broke through at the bottom of the second. B. Verme singled to spark the rally before K. Cox delivered an RBI single up the middle to open the scoring. Later in the inning, M. Millard reached on a fielder's choice to plate another run as Mount Olive grabbed a 2-0 advantage.
Steen navigated early pressure in the fourth inning when Wingate loaded the bases with two outs, but she induced a groundout to end the threat and preserve the lead. The Trojans added an insurance run in the third as Verme doubled to left center to drive in Sam Taylor and extend the margin to 3-0.
Wingate trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the fifth on a single and a passed ball, but Steen settled in down the stretch. She retired six of the final seven batters she faced and stranded the tying run aboard in the seventh, sealing the win with a pop-up to third base.  Steen (3-4) allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks across 7.0 innings.
Mount Olive returns to action later this week as the Trojans face off against Augusta on Friday, with games starting at 2 PM.