Mount Olive slugged four homers and got strong pitching from Carly White and Lauren Smith to sweep host Wingate University 4-1 and 7-0 in non-conference softball Wednesday afternoon at Wingate, N.C.
In the opener, Jennifer Jones and Christie Wright slugged back-to-back two-out homers to break up a pitcher's duel in the top of the sixth inning. The Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the first when Beth Overman blasted her second homer of the season to centerfield. The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the frame when Shannen Adams led off with a bunt single, then came around to score on a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch and an illegal pitch.
White (4-1) allowed just two more hits, both singles, to Wingate the rest of the contest. Wingate hurler Stacey Houser (5-3) was just as tough. She kept the Trojans off the board in the third when Overman and Kelsey Akers singled. Only once in the first five frames did she allow a Trojan lead-off hitter to reach base.
After the first, White faced only one serious challenge. In the bottom of the fifth, the Bulldogs put the go-ahead run on second with one out. White coaxed a pair of flyouts to Lauren McGrath to end the threat.
In the sixth, Mount Olive did not need a lead-off runner. With the bases empty and two outs, Jones launched her second home run of the season over the centerfield fence to break the tie. Moments later, Wright followed with her first homer.
In the seventh, Mount Olive added an insurance run. Savannah Becker and Rebekah McDaniel led off with singles, then McGrath walked to load the bases with two outs. Overman then drove in her second run by drawing a walk.
In the nightcap, Mount Olive blew open a close game with a five-run fifth inning, and Smith made the lead stand with a four-hit shutout.
Smith (1-1) walked two and struck out two in her first win of the season. In support, Kalie Smith blasted her first home run of the season and McGrath was 3-for-3 with two RBI for the Trojans (9-3).
Mount Olive struck first in the third. Overman walked against Wingate hurler Miranda Paul (5-1) then advanced on a groundout by Katie Moore and a flyout by Jones. Overman scored when Wright reached on an error.
Errors played a big part oin the Trojans' rally in the fifth. Moore started things with a one-out single, then an error put runners on second and third. After a walk to Wright loaded the bases, Kalie Smith grounded into a fielder's choice to score a second run. Jesse Crist walked to keep the inning going and re-load the bases for Lowe, who reached on another error to make it 4-0. McGrath capped off the uprising with a two-run double.
Mount Olive returns to action Saturday afternoon against Mars Hill. The doubleheader is the Trojans' home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.