Madison Johnston tossed a five-hit shutout and Caitlin Ewers' seventh-inning rbi-single was the game winner as University of Mount Olive defeated USC Aiken 1-0 in game one of a non-conference softball doubleheader. Johnston struck out four and walked none in seven innings.
Game two was virtually a duplicate of game one, but with USC Aiken scoring the lone run of the game in the bottom of the sixth for a 1-0 win over the Trojans.
In the opener, Johnston (3-4) never allowed more than one runner on base in any inning and only one Pacer runner advanced past second base. She retired the side in order in the first and allowed one hit each in the second through sixth innings.
USC Aiken pitcher Taylor Morgan was working on a three-hit shutout when Mount Olive (5-9) broke through in the top of the seventh. Pinch-hitter Brooke Kamphuis singled up the middle to lead off the inning and advanced to second on Jazmin Montgomery's sacrifice. Ewers followed with a single to right to bring home Kamphuis with the lone run of the game.
A one-out error in the bottom of the seventh put the tying run on base for USC Aiken. Johnston finished with a force out and a strikeout to seal the win.
Game two also had zeroes on the scoreboard for most of the contest, although both teams threatened throughout. Mount Olive had a pair of hits in the top of the first, but Anna Ingram was denied a two-out rbi when a Trojan runner was thrown out at the plate for the final out.
Singles by Savannah Becker and Montgomery gave the Trojans runners on first and second with two outs in the third, but USC Aiken pitcher Chandler Terrapin ended the threat with an infield popout. Terrapin allowed only one more Trojan baserunner and finished with a five-hit shutout.
Trojan starter Julie Hodges retired the side in order in the first and overcame a leadoff walk in the second and a pair of two-out singles in the third. Hodges ran into trouble in the fourth when Magan Thrower's double put runners on second and third with one out. Ewers took over for Hodges and ended the inning with an infield popout and a groundout.
USC Aiken (12-4) looked to score in the bottom of the fourth when Samantha Chubb doubled to left with runners on second and third, but Kelsey Akers threw a Pacer runner out at the plate to keep the game scoreless. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Ewers escaped with a groundout to third.
Trojan pitchers kept USC Aiken scoreless for 12 2/3 consecutive innings before the Pacers ended the streak with a two-out rally in the sixth. Andrea Daring drew a two-out walk to keep the inning alive and Lily Shoaf followed with a pinch-hit single. Pacer leadoff batter Sarah Montei brought in the game winner with a single to right-center, her third hit of the game.
The Trojans were retired in order in the top of the seventh.
After its first two home dates were washed out, Mount Olive will have its home opener and conference opener Thursday as the Trojans play host to Pfeiffer University in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader. Game time is 2 p.m. at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.