Lindsey Russell belted a grand slam in game one as University of Mount Olive split with Fayetteville State University 11-0, 7-5 Wednesday in Fayetteville, N.C. in non-conference softball.
Game One: Mount Olive 11 Fayetteville State 0
Mount Olive (17-11) got the offense cooking in the first inning with two away. Russell got on with a single into left and moved to second after a single by Kayleigh Jonas. Lauren McGrath doubled home the first runs of the game with a shot to center. After a walk, back-to-back RBI-singles by Erin Brogan and Kristin Power plated the final runs of the inning.
A two run home run by Jonas pushed the Trojans out 6-0.
The fourth inning proved to be the final blow to secure Mount Olive the win. Brogan doubled to lead off the inning. Kelsey Akers with two out then singled past the third base bag and moved Brogan to third. Beth Overman drew a walk to set up Russell. Russell lifted a pitch high, up and over the left field wall for a bases clearing grand slam and the Trojans went up by double figures.
Fayetteville State (10-7) was unable to make a comeback in the bottom of the fifth and fell in game one by the mercy rule.
Madison Johnston (10-3) got the win in the circle for Mount Olive as she picked up the shutout.
Game two: Mount Olive 5 Fayetteville 7
Fayetteville State (11-7) struck first in game two Alex Wickman stole home after getting on with a single. An error and a groundout scored two more runs and gave the Broncos a 3-0 lead.
Mount Olive answered in the fifth. Regan Anderson walked to lead off the inning. Talyor Carter got on with a bunt single and Anderson moved to second. After a fielder's choice went in favor of the Trojans Overman pushed two runs across on an RBI-double to center. Russell followed suit and tied the game up with a line out to left that allowed Akers to tag up.
The Broncos took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth. Fayetteville State scored four runs in the inning off two fielder's choices, a double, and a ground out to take a 7-3 lead heading into Mount Olive's final set of at bats.
The Trojans fought back and began to rally. Akers reached on an error by the second baseman and Overman walked. Russell came up big again as she crushed a ball deep for her second home run of the day. However, an appeal was made an Overman was called out for leaving the bag early and only two runs counted in the homerun. Savannah Becker tried to continue the rally as she singled through the right side. The final out was recorded on a ground out and the rally was put out.
Caitlin Ewers (3-3) picked up the loss for Mount Olive in the circle.