Lindsey Russell's three-run homer capped a six-run fourth inning as University of Mount Olive defeated King University 6-2 in game one of a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader Saturday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. Madison Johnston tossed a complete game six-hitter for the Trojans.
The Trojans completed the sweep with a 13-4 run-rule victory in game two. Kelsey Akers' two-run double capped an eight-run fifth inning as Mount Olive batted around without recording an out.
Game one was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Mount Olive (13-11 overall, 4-2 Conference Carolinas) had runners on second and third with two outs. The inning appeared to be over on Taylor Carter's fly ball to center, but the ball was misplayed, scoring both runners and giving the Trojans a 2-0 lead. Carter moved to third on a wild pitch and after a walk to Kelsey Akers, scored on a double steal.
Beth Overman walked for the third time in the game and Russell sent a 2-0 pitch high over the left field fence for her third home run of the season and a 6-0 lead. All six runs were unearned.
Johnston (7-3) retired nine straight batters during one stretch starting in the first inning. She struck out three and helped herself defensively with five assists and a putout. She triggered a 1-6-3 double play in the top of the fourth.
In game two, King (8-16, 4-4) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first. Chrissy Melcher doubled home the first run and scored on a single to left by Amber Walker.
Mount Olive struck back in the bottom of the second as Tiffany Hawley led off with the first of her two doubles in the game. Savannah Becker's rbi-single gave the Trojans their first run and Erin Brogan drove in a run with a groundout to first. Kristin Power doubled home a run and Overman capped the five-run inning with a two-run double to give the Trojans a 5-2 lead.
King pulled within 5-4 with single runs in the third and fourth innings before Mount Olive put the game away in the fifth.
Overman singled through the right side to lead off the inning and scored on Russell's double to right-center, the first of four consecutive doubles by the Trojans. Hawley doubled down the left field line to make the score 7-4 and went to third on Lauren McGrath's double to right. Becker followed with a double to fence in left-center to drive in both runners and extend Mount Olive's lead to 9-4.
After a pitching change, Brogan was hit by a pitch and then advanced to third on an rbi-single by Power, who went to second on the throw. Pinch-hitter Kayla Allen singled home Brogan and advanced to second on the throw. Akers, the ninth batter of the inning, ended the game with her opposite-field double to left-center.
The Trojans belted a school record eight doubles in game two.
Kayleigh Jonas (1-1) took over with nobody out in the third inning and after a King runner was caught stealing, Jonas got a strikeout looking to end the inning. Lauren Smith relieved Jonas with nobody out in the fourth and allowed only one hit in two scoreless innings for her second save of the season.
Mount Olive completes its weekend homestand Sunday as the Trojans play host to Lees-McRae in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader. Game time is 2 p.m.