Softball Drops Pair Of 1-0 Decisions At Francis Marion

Softball Drops Pair Of 1-0 Decisions At Francis Marion

Madison Johnston tossed a complete-game six-hitter in the opener and Caitlin Ewers followed with a complete-game four-hitter in the nightcap, but it wasn't enough as University of Mount Olive dropped a pair of 1-0 decisions in a non-conference softball doubleheader to Francis Marion University Thursday at Florence, S.C. The doubleheader was originally scheduled to have been played Tuesday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field, but had to moved and rescheduled due to field conditions caused by heavy rain in Mount Olive over the weekend.

The Trojans' record drops to 2-4, while the Patriots improve to 2-2.

Mount Olive has its home opener Tuesday as the Trojans play host to Wingate University in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is 2 p.m. at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.

Game 1: Francis Marion 1, Mount Olive 0
Mount Olive threatened to take an early lead as Kelsey Akers led off the game with a double to right-center. After she moved to third on a sacrifice by Kayla Allen, Savannah Becker drew a walk and stole second to give the Trojans two runners in scoring position. But Francis Marion pitcher Shelby Kelly (1-1) got out of trouble with a strikeout and a groundout.

Johnston (1-2) retired nine of the first 11 batters she faced, overcoming a leadoff double in the second and a leadoff infield single in the third. Francis Marion broke through in the bottom of the fourth after a throwing error on Taylor Brunson's infield single brought in an unearned run for the lone score of the game.

Jazmin Montgomery kept the Trojans' hopes alive with a two-out infield single in the top of the seventh, but Kelly sealed the win on a flyout to right for the final out. Kelly finished with a four-hitter for the Patriots.

Game 2: Francis Marion 1, Mount Olive 0
Ewers (0-2) held Francis Marion scoreless on two hits through five innings, before Chelsea Welty set up the lone run of the game with a leadoff bloop single in the bottom of the sixth. Welty advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored what proved to be the game winner on Brunson's double to left center.

Mount Olive had its best scoring chance in the top of the second when Anna Ingram led off with a single and Callie Ferrell was hit by a pitch one out later. Francis Marion pitcher Samantha Wroblewski (1-1) then retired the side on a foul out and a groundout. Wroblewski did not allow another Trojan baserunner the rest of the way for a one-hit shutout.