Kelsey Akers went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, including the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth as University of Mount Olive posted its third straight win with a 5-4 victory over University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown in the 2016 Spring Games softball tournament Monday at Clermont, Fla. The Trojans suffered their first loss of the tournament later in the day, falling to Upper Iowa University by an identical 5-4 score.
Mount Olive (9-11) overcame an early 2-0 deficit against Pittsburgh-Johnstown with a four-run second inning. Akers put the Trojans ahead with a bases-loaded two-run double and Charlene Thompson added an rbi-single.
After Pittsburgh-Johnstown (1-2) tied the game with single runs in the fourth and sixth inning, Mount Olive went back on top to stay in the bottom of the sixth. Kristin Power reached on an error, stole second and scored on Akers' rbi-single.
Caitlin Ewers (1-5) took over in the top of the fourth and pitched three innings for the win. Madison Johnston escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning for her second save of the season. Pittsburgh-Johnstown also left the bases loaded in the first and fourth innings.
Against Upper Iowa, Mount Olive took a 1-0 lead on Savannah Becker's rbi-single in the top of the second. Johnston (5-5) kept Upper Iowa scoreless through four innings, but the Peacocks tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth and took their first lead with three runs in the sixth.
The Trojans rallied in the top of the seventh as Kayla Allen, who tripled in the first inning, doubled in the first run of the inning. A Peacock error led to two more runs as Mount Olive tied the game 4-4.
Upper Iowa (8-7) collected four singles in the bottom of the seventh for the walk off victory.
Mount Olive has Tuesday off, then takes on Post University and University of the Sciences Wednesday afternoon. The Trojans conclude their Spring Break trip Thursday with games against Walsh University and University of Minnesota-Duluth.