Lauren Smith tossed a complete game four-hitter and University of Mount Olive scored all of its runs in the bottom of the third on three consecutive run-scoring doubles as the Trojans defeated Francis Marion University 3-2 in game one of a non-conference softball doubleheader Wednesday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. Beth Overman, Katie Moore and Tiffany Hawley hit back-to-back-to-back rbi-doubles to put the Trojans ahead to stay.
The Trojans had to settle for a split after falling to the Patriots 6-5 in game two. Mount Olive rallied from a pair of two-run deficits, but Francis Marion scored an unearned tie-breaking run in the seventh.
Mount Olive (8-9) overcame a 1-0 deficit in the opener as Kelsey Akers singled with one out in the third for her second hit of the game. Akers stole second and scored the tying run when Overman drove a pitch down the right field line that hit the top of the fence and bounced back onto the field. Overman came home on a double by Moore, who scored on Hawley's double down the left field line to give the Trojans a 3-1 lead.
Smith (3-3) rebounded from a two-out rbi-double by Shelby Mathews in the top of the first to retire seven of the next nine batters. Francis Marion added a run in the top of the fourth when Ashley Burney led off with a double and eventually scored on a groundout. Smith withstood a one-out double in the fifth, then retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings for her second straight win.
Francis Marion (8-6) took a 2-0 lead in game two on Taylor Barrineau's two-run homer in the top of the second inning. Mount Olive tied the game with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the third when the Trojans loaded the bases on a failed force play at third after a one-out single by Akers and a walk to Overman. Akers scored on a wild pitch and Overman came home on another infield error.
The Trojans took their first lead of the game in the fourth as Lauren McGrath singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a single by Akers, who also stole second. A two-out throwing error allowed McGrath to score and put the Trojans on top 3-2.
The Patriots regained the lead with a three-run fifth inning as Jessie Sims and Kristie Hanewinckel delivered rbi-singles. Francis Marion also scored on a throwing error on a steal attempt to go on top 5-3.
Mount Olive rallied again in the bottom of the sixth as Akers hit a leadoff single for her third hit of the game and Overman was hit by a pitch. Moore's sacrifice advanced the runners and Akers scored on Hawley's single through the left side. Overman raced home on Kalie Smith's sacrifice fly to right to tie the game 5-5.
In the top of the seventh, Francis Marion scored the go-ahead run without benefit of a hit. Lindsey Brown reached on an infield error, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice. Brown scored on Hanewinckel's sacrifice fly to right.
McGrath's two-out infield single in the bottom of the seventh kept the game alive. Akers nearly had her fourth hit of the game with a grounder to the right side, but second baseman Brown made a backhanded toss to first and Burney made a barehanded catch for the final out.
Francis Marion pitcher Katie Carnes (5-2) threw 142 pitches in the complete game win.
Akers went 5-for-8 in the doubleheader and had two of the Trojans' five stolen bases.
Mount Olive plays in its third and final tournament of the regular season this weekend as the Trojans travel to Duncan, S.C., to compete in the Mid-South Classic. The Trojans take on North Georgia and UNC Pembroke Friday, then face Flagler and GRU Augusta Saturday.