Kristin Power's two-run double in the bottom of the third broke a 3-3 tie as University of Mount Olive went on to defeat Mars Hill 7-4 in game one of a non-conference softball doubleheader Saturday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. The Trojans settled for a split after falling to the Lions 5-3 in game two.
After spotting Mars Hill a run in the top of the first inning in the opener, Mount Olive (6-6) came back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Taylor Carter led off the inning with a single, went to third on Kelsey Akers' double and scored on a fielder's choice. Jazzmin Montgomery drove in a run with a groundout and Savannah Becker singled in a run.
Mars Hill (1-5) tied the game with two runs in the top of the third, highlighted by Jamie Booze's rbi-double. Mount Olive took the lead for good in the bottom of the third as Overman and Tiffany Hawley singled to lead off the inning and Power's two-out double gave the Trojans a 5-3 lead. Overman added a two-run double in the sixth.
Madison Johnston (4-2) went the distance for the win. She allowed only two hits after the third inning.
In the second game, rbi-singles by Erin Brogan and Carter in the bottom of the second tied the game 2-2 after Taylor Lail hit a two-run homer in the top of the second for Mars Hill. The Lions went ahead to stay with two runs in the top of the fifth and an unearned run in the seventh.
Mount Olive threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Carter and Akers opened the inning with back-to-back singles to center by Carter and Akers. But the Trojans were held to a single run on Hawley's sacrifice fly as Mars Hill second baseman Holly Norris made a diving catch on a line drive to the right side for the final out.
Mount Olive returns to action Wednesday as the Trojans play host to Lenoir-Rhyne in a non-conference doubleheader. Game time is 3 p.m. at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.