Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — Mount Olive swept King (Tenn.), winning 5-1 in Game 1 and 2-0 in Game 2 on Friday.  Even with the busy workload creeping up from this week, the Trojans continue to lock in and find their stride.  

Opening the game, the Trojans put a run on the board after McKenzie Millard reached on a bunt single, stole second, and later scored on Emma King's RBI single down the right-field line, giving Mount Olive a 1-0 lead.

Alex Steen kept the Tornado lineup off balance, working around traffic in multiple innings to preserve the early advantage. King threatened in the fourth as well as the fifth and fifth innings with runners in scoring position, but Steen delivered key outs to escape the jams. Steen (12-6) tossed a complete game, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six.

Mount Olive broke open the game in the sixth inning with its most productive offensive frame. A leadoff walk by Hadley Womack set the stage before Samantha Taylor blasted a two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 3-0. Pressure continued as Elizabeth Thome drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Later in the inning, Brianna Verme added another RBI to cap a four-run rally and push the lead to 5-0.

Though King managed to score in the seventh on an RBI double, Steen closed the door to secure the win.

Mount Olive completed the sweep with another strong effort in the circle, as Hailey King dominated with a complete-game shutout in the closing matchup.

The Trojans struck first in the opening inning when Kynley Brewer walked and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Millard. Emma King followed with an RBI single to give Mount Olive a 1-0 advantage.

Settling into a defensive battle over the next several innings, both teams relied on strong pitching, with King (Tenn.) limiting King to minimal offensive chances. In the fourth inning, the Trojans added an insurance run when Hadley Womack advanced to third and scored as Emily Saw stole a base, extending the lead to 2-0.

King controlled the final innings, allowing just two hits and consistently generating fly-ball outs to keep the Tornado offense off balance. King (Tenn.) briefly threatened in the seventh with a leadoff double, but the right fielder threw out the runner attempting to stretch the hit into a triple, ending the rally and preserving the shutout.

Allowing just two hits, King (2-3) earned the victory, striking out one and walking one.

With the sweep, Mount Olive improves to 24-22 overall and 13-11 in Conference Carolinas play, continuing to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the conference schedule. Their matchup against Lees-McRae is up next, with games beginning at 2:00 and 4:00 PM tomorrow.