Tiffany Hawley went 2-for-4 with two RBI but the University of Mount Olive dropped a pair 5-1 and 10-8 to 25-ranked Wingate University Wednesday afternoon for non-conference softball in Wingate, N.C. Mount Olive tried to rally in the seventh in game two but were unable to score enough to complete a comeback.
Game One Wingate 5 Mount Olive 1
In game one Tiffany Hawley scored the sole run of the game for Mount Olive (5-4) in the third inning. Kelsey Akers got on with a one out through the right side. Hawley then smacked a ball into left center which brought in Akers and Hawley moved to second on the throw. Mount Olive took the early lead 1-0.
Wingate (6-1) added single runs in the third and fourth. Taylor Laskey singled up the middle in the third to bring in Morgan Hendrix. In the fourth Mellana Helms singled in Emily Usiak and the Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead.
The fifth inning saw three runs come across for Wingate. Alexis Burrell hit a one out home run and Misty Doran doubled home two and the Bulldogs led by four heading into the top of the sixth.
The Trojans had a chance in the seventh as Taylor Carter singled to lead off the inning. Carter then stole second and was forced to hold at second on a Akers single into left. The two runners were stranded as Mount Olive was unable to get a few more hits to make a comeback.
Madison Johnson (3-2) picked up the loss in the circle for the Trojans. She went four and two thirds giving up four runs off eight hits and one strikeout.
Stacey Houser (4-1) picked up the complete game win allowing one run off five hits and struck out five.
Game Two Wingate 10 Mount Olive 8
In game two Wingate (7-1) hit the scoreboard early as Helms took a 0-2 pitch over the left center field wall. The solo shot was the only run to come across in the first but Mount Olive (5-5) came roaring back in the second.
Kristin Power got on with a one out double down the right field line. Jazmin Montgomery followed with a single to center and Power came in to tie the game. Ashleigh Mason drew a two out walk. Carter gave Mount Olive its first lead with a RBI-single into right and moved to second on the throw home but Montgomery would score.
After Akers was walked to load the bases Beth Overman brought home two on a single through the right side. After a Bulldog pitching change a double steal by Overman and Akers allowed Akers to score and Mount Olive had a 5-1 lead.
Mikayla Hannah singled to start off the bottom of the second for Wingate. M Martucci pinch ran for Hannah and advanced to second on a single by Doran. After a fielder's choice Helms loaded the bases with a single through the left side. Morgan Hendrix plated two on a single to left as Adams and Doran scored.
Laskey walked in a run with the bases loaded to bring the deficit to 5-3. Burrell with two away cleared the bases with a grand slam to give Wingate the lead as Laskey, Hendrix, and Helms all scored.
Mount Olive answered with a run in the top of the fourth as Kayleigh Jonas walked with the bases loaded and the Trojans were down one.
Wingate did not let up as with two away in the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs struck for three, two out hits and brought in two runs to push the lead out to 9-6.
The Trojans in the fifth got Montgomery on after she was hit by a pitch. Mason reached on a fielding error by the third baseman and both runners were safe. Hawley came in to pinch hit for Carter and hit an RBI-single down the left field line to bring the game to with two.
The Bulldogs added another run in the fifth off a fielding error by the Trojan shortstop that allowed a run to come in and Wingate was back in front by three 10-7.
In the top of the seventh Mount Olive was down to its final at bats of the game. Back-to-back one out walks put runners at first and second for the Trojans. Jonas singled home Akers with a ball down the left field line. On the play Overman got caught in a pickle between second and third and was put out for the second out. Mount Olive was unable to score after the play and fell in the night cap.
Lauren Smith (0-0) picked up the loss allowing nine runs off nine hits and four strikeouts in her three and two thirds innings pitched.
Houser (5-1) picked up the win in relief throwing two and a third allowing one run off two hits and struck out two.
Mount Olive returns home this weekend as they will host Mars Hill on Saturday. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m.