Savannah Becker's two-run double highlighted a four-run third inning and Beth Overman drove in two runs in a three-run sixth inning as University of Mount Olive defeated Pfeiffer University 7-4 in game one of a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader Sunday at Misenheimer, N.C. Kelsey Akers paced the Trojans' 14-hit attack with four hits.
The Trojans completed the sweep with a nine-inning 8-7 victory in game two. Kristin Power belted a grand slam home run in the fourth inning and Lauren McGrath singled home the game winner with two outs in the top of the ninth. Lauren Smith pitched all nine innings.
In the opener, Mount Olive (24-16, 11-5) spotted Pfeiffer a two-run lead before taking the lead for good in the top of the third. Akers beat out an infield single to the pitcher, advanced to third on a double by Overman and scored the Trojans' first run on a single by Lindsey Russell. Overman scored the tying run when Russell was thrown out trying to steal second.
Tiffany Hawley and McGrath followed with back-to-back singles and both runners scored on Becker's double to give Mount Olive a 4-2 lead.
After Pfeiffer added a run in fourth, Taylor Carter led off the sixth with a single and Akers followed with a single. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and came home on Overman's single to extend Mount Olive's lead to 6-3. Overman eventually scored on Becker's rbi-single.
Pfeiffer (22-19, 9-7) had a chance to break the game open in the bottom of the first after loading the bases with nobody out. The Falcons scored two runs on Lindsey Russell's single, but the rally was thwarted when the Trojans turned an error into a 2-5-3-2 double play. The inning ended on an infield popout.
Trojan starter Madison Johnston (13-3) went four innings and Kayleigh Jonas pitched the final three innings for her second save of the season.
Game two started in similar fashion as Mount Olive again had to rally from a 2-0 first-inning deficit. The Trojans loaded the bases in the top of the fourth on a leadoff single by Becker and two-out walks to Jazzmin Montgomery and Erin Brogan. Power cleared the bases with her third home run of the season to give Mount Olive a 4-2 lead.
The Trojans extended the lead to 6-3 in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Power and a run-scoring double by Carter. But Pfeiffer answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 6-6. Rachel Crowder hit a bases-loaded two-run double with two outs for the Falcons.
Mount Olive regained the lead in the top of the eighth when Carter reached on an error with two outs and Akers followed with an rbi-single to short. But Pfeiffer answered in the bottom of the eighth on Russell's two-out rbi-single.
In the top of the ninth, Overman was placed on second to begin the inning and went to third on Becker's sacrifice. Overman was unable to advance on a groundout to third, but scored when McGrath singled to short.
With the international tie-breaker runner on second, Pfeiffer was unable to get a bunt down to advance the runner and Smith (6-6) retired the Falcons in order on three fly balls, the final out a popout to Akers at short.
Mount Olive returns to action Wednesday as the Trojans travel to Murfreesboro, N.C., to take on Chowan in a non-conference doubleheader. The two teams split April 4 at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. Game time is 2 p.m.