The top third of the lineup - Kelsey Akers, Beth Overman and Katie Moore - collected three hits apiece and Savannah Becker hit a three-run double in a five-run seventh inning to break open a close game as University of Mount Olive defeated Flagler 13-7 Saturday in the second day of the Mid-South Softball Classic at Spartanburg, S.C. Moore scored four runs and drove in three.
After not being shut out this season through its first 17 games this season, Mount Olive suffered a pair of shutout losses Friday in the opening day of the tournament. The Trojans fell to North Georgia 3-0 in the first game and 1-0 to UNC Pembroke in the second game. Mount Olive fell to GRU Augusta 2-0 in Saturday's second game. The Trojans concluded play Sunday with a 6-4 loss to Bellarmine.
Mount Olive (9-12) jumped out to a 5-0 lead against Flagler as Overman's two-run single highlighted a four-run second inning. Three Trojan errors in the bottom of the third led to four unearned runs as Flagler pulled within one.
Tiffany Hawley singled in a run with two outs in the top of the fourth and Moore added a two-out two-run double in the fifth to extend the Trojans' lead to 8-4. Flagler answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
In the top of the seventh, Moore and Jazmin Montgomery each singled in a run to extend Mount Olive's lead to 10-6. With two outs and the bases loaded, Becker cleared the bases to make the score 13-6. Flagler added a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Carly White allowed only two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings pitched to pick up the win. Lauren Smith pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and picked up the save.
Friday, Smith tossed a three-hitter against UNC Pembroke and took a shutout into the bottom of the seventh, but the Braves capitalized on a pair of errors to score an unearned run with two outs. Smith retired the first nine batters she faced before allowing a leadoff double in the fourth. She did not allow more than one runner on base until two UNCP runners reached on errors.
Mount Olive had its first scoring chance in the top of the fourth when Akers led off with a double and advanced to third one out later on a flyout. But an infield popout ended the inning. Kalie Smith singled to lead off the fifth inning and Becker reached on a one-out error, but the Trojans were unable to advance the runners.
Against North Georgia, Madison Johnston went the distance and did not allow any earned runs. Overman had both of the Trojans' hits. Against GRU Augusta, Smith tossed a six-hitter and Moore had both Trojan hits.
In Sunday's game, Kalie Smith's first-inning rbi-double and Erin Brogan's two-run single in the top of the fourth staked Mount Olive to a 4-1 lead before Bellarmine rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Mount Olive continues its spring break trip Tuesday as the Trojans travel to Milledgeville, Ga., to take on Georgia College in a non-conference doubleheader. Game time is 4 p.m.