Katie Moore's three-run double and Christie Wright's three-run homer highlighted a nine-run fourth inning as Mount Olive defeated Millersville 14-1 in game one of a non-conference softball doubleheader Wednesday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. Carly White limited Millersville to one unearned run in five innings for her third consecutive complete game win.
The Trojans took the second game 5-0 as Lauren Smith tossed a three-hit shutout and Jesse Crist and Jennifer Jones belted home runs in a three-run fourth inning. Danielle Mitchell went 3-for-4 in game two and collected five hits in the twinbill as Mount Olive extended its winning streak to seven.
After spotting Millersville a run in game one, Mount Olive (18-6) took the lead for good in the bottom of the second. Lauren McGrath beat out an infield single with one out and Savannah Becker followed with a single one out later. Kassie Lowe sent a 3-2 pitch up the middle to drive in McGrath with the tying run. Mitchell reached on an infield error to load the bases and Beth Overman cleared the bases with a double to right-center to give the Trojans a 4-1 lead.
Jennifer Jones scored a run in the third on a passed ball and Mount Olive broke the game open in the fourth. Becker drew a leadoff walk and scored on a throwing error after Lowe singled to left and Mitchell beat out a bunt single. Mitchell stole second and the Trojans loaded the bases when Overman reached first on a passed ball on strike three. Moore then lined an opposite-field double to the right-center field fence to extend Mount Olive's lead to 9-1.
Jones drew a walk and Moore scored on McGrath's one-out rbi-single. Wright then sent a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence to make the score 13-1. Becker reached on an error and eventually scored the final run when Mitchell beat out another infield single.
Millersville (12-4) capitalized on a Trojan error to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Cara Nance led off with a single and came all the way around on an errant throw on Ashley Cantiello's sacrifice. But that would be all the Marauders would get as White (8-2) retired the next three batters to end the innings. White retired the side in order on five pitches in the fourth inning and went on to toss a four-hitter.
In the second game, Mount Olive collected four hits and loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but had to settle for only one run on Jones' rbi-single. That turned out to be all Smith would need.
Smith (4-3) overcame a one-out walk in the top of the first when Becker caught a fly ball in shallow center and doubled up the runner on first for the first of two double plays in the game for Mount Olive. Smith held the Marauders to just one hit through five innings before allowing singles to Jordan Sheffield and Ginely Ortiz-Marrero in the sixth. But the Trojan defense would erase both baserunners.
Sheffield bunted her way on to lead off the inning, but was gunned down at second after right fielder Mitchell retrieved an errant throw to first in foul territory. After Ortiz-Marrero's line single to left, Jones, Moore and Overman turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Smith, who had a four-pitch second inning, retired the side in order on seven pitches in the seventh.
Mount Olive's bats gave Smith some breathing room when Crist led off with her second home run of the year. Moore drew a two-out walk and Jones followed with her fifth home run of the season to give the Trojans a 4-0 lead. Mount Olive added an unearned run in the sixth.
Mount Olive continues its four-date homestand with a pair of Conference Carolinas doubleheaders this weekend. The Trojans play host to Limestone Saturday and to Lees-McRae Sunday. Game time both days is 1 p.m. at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.