University of Mount Olive split a doubleheader with Emmanuel College 4-0, 8-7 in Franklin Springs, Ga. Sunday afternoon for Conference Carolinas Softball.
Game One: Mount Olive 4 Emmanuel 0
Mount Olive (28-17 Overall, 13-5 Conference Carolinas) was retired in order in the first and second inning, however, the Trojans were able to break through in the third.
Caitlin Ewers singled with one away to give Mount Olive its' first base runner. Charlene Thompson came in to pinch run for Ewers and stole both second and third. Brooke Kamphuis singled to third, but the play held Thompson at third. Kamphuis then stole second to put two runners in scoring position.
Following a pop up, Savannah Becker drove home the first run as her RBI-double to left cleared the bases. Kayla Allen reached on a fielding error by the Emmanuel (25-23, 9-11) second baseman and Becker was allowed to score to give Mount Olive a 3-0 lead.
The Trojans sat down the Lions in order in the bottom of the third and expanded their lead in the fourth. Kristin Power singled with one away to start the inning for Mount Olive. Ewers picked up her second hit of the game with two outs and drove in Power from second to move the cushion to four runs.
Mount Olive closed the door in game one as the Trojan pitching staff allowed just four hits scattered over the final four innings.
Madison Johnston (15-7) picked up the win in the circle. She allowed only four hits in her six innings of work and struck out three batters. Julie Hodges (2) came in for the save and did not allow a runner to reach base in the seventh.
Game Two: Mount Olive 7 Emmanuel 8
In game two, Mount Olive (28-18, 14-6) again was able to take the lead first. This time the Trojans were not retired for the first two innings as Anna Ingram gave Mount Olive its' first hit in the second inning. Thompson came into the game to run for Ingram and stole second on the next pitch. She then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jazmin Montgomery.
Power brought in the first run of the game as an error by the Emmanuel (26-23, 10-11) center fielder allowed Thompson to touch home. Kamphius, two batters later, picked up the first RBI of the game with a base hit off the pitcher. The hit allowed Power to score and Mount Olive was up 2-0.
The Lions tied the game up in the bottom half of the third as two RBI-singles to center both drove in a solo run and the game was tied.
Mount Olive broke the tie in the fifth inning. Kelsey Akers reached via an Emmaunel error and moved to second on the play. Becker singled to right and moved Akers to third. An error by the Lions' catcher allowed Akers to score and Becker to take second.
Allen picked up an RBI-single to center and moved to second on the throw home, however, it was too late as Becker scored. Montgomery picked up another insurance run for the Trojans with a RBI-single past the shortstop and Mount Olive led 5-2.
Emmanuel came back in the sixth to take the lead. Two singles to begin the sixth and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Lions. Kara Hembree cleared the bases on an RBI-single to left. Two more runs came in on the hit as an error by the Trojan left fielder allowed the runners from second and first to score. A sacrifice fly by Crystal Busbee broke the tie and gave Emmanuel a 6-5 lead.
Kelsey Akers tied the game in the top of the seventh with a solo home run.
Mount Olive kept Emmanuel off the board in the bottom of the seventh and forced the game into extra innings.
Ingram, who was placed on second base due to the international tie-breaker rules, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Madison Stewart. After a fly out, Ferrell drove home a run as an error by the third baseman gave Mount Olive the 7-6 lead.
With a runner placed on second, Hembree doubled down the left field line and runners were at second and third. Busbee singled home the tying run and Hembree advanced to third. After an infield single, Emmanuel was able to push across the winning run with a base hit into left and the Lions took game two.
Mount Olive will play the final games of the regular season April 20 as the Trojans travel north to take on arch rival Barton College in a doubleheader at 2 p.m.