Trojans Split Conference Carolinas Softball Doubleheader With Barton

Trojans Split Conference Carolinas Softball Doubleheader With Barton

University of Mount Olive saw a five-run lead disappear, but Kristin Power's rbi-single in the bottom of the sixth put the Trojans on top to stay for an 8-6 win over Barton College in game two of a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader Tuesday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. Caitlin Ewers pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win.

The Trojans salvaged a split after dropping the opener 5-4 in 10 innings. Tiffany Hawley belted a 250-foot home run in the contest, which saw four lead changes.

In the nightcap, Mount Olive (21-15 overall, 8-4 Conference Carolinas) scored two runs in the bottom of the first when Hawley's sacrifice fly to left-center was misplayed and added a run in the second on Kelsey Akers' two-out rbi-infield single. Beth Overman's bases loaded two-run single in the bottom of the fifth stretched the Trojans' lead to 5-0.

UMO starter Lauren Smith held Barton (10-20, 3-11) scoreless on two hits through five innings before Rachel Jordan's two-run homer ignited a six-run sixth inning to put the Bulldogs ahead 6-5. Four of the runs were unearned after a two-out error.

Hawley led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and Lauren McGrath drew a walk. Savannah Becker followed with a sacrifice and pinch-runner Brooke Kamphuis scored the tying run on Erin Brogan's rbi-groundout. Power lined a single down the left field line to drive in McGrath and give Mount Olive a 7-6 lead. Power eventually scored on a throwing error, Barton's fifth error of the game.

Ewers (4-4) retired the side in order in the top of the seventh on three groundouts.

In the opener, Lindsey Russell drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the first and Hawley sent the first pitch high over the left field fence to give Mount Olive a 2-1 lead. Barton answered with two unearned runs in the top of the second to go back on top 3-2.

Mount Olive regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth without benefit of a hit. After Barton starter Liz White (6-9) retired the first two batters, Anna Ingram drew an 11-pitch walk. Pinch-runner Taylor Carter scored from first when Power's line drive to center was misplayed. Power, who advanced to second on the error, stole third and came around to score when the throw went into the outfield as the Trojans regained the lead 4-3.

Barton tied the game in the top of the seventh as an error kept the inning alive. The Bulldogs scored the winning run in the top of the 10th on a passed ball.

Mount Olive hits the road this weekend for a pair of Conference Carolinas doubleheaders. The Trojans go to Belmont, N.C., Saturday to face Belmont Abbey, then head to Misenheimer, N.C., Sunday to take on Pfeiffer.