Mount Olive Sweeps Winston-Salem State In Midweek DH

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Mount Olive softball swept the Rams of Winston-Salem State University in the nonconference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Twin City Field in Winston-Salem, N.C. 

GAME 1 INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 8 - Winston-Salem State 0
Records: Mount Olive (13-8), Winston-Salem State (9-2)
Location: Twin City Field | Winston-Salem, N.C. 

How It Happened
Play-by-Play

GAME RUNDOWN

• The first game of the day was a defensive battle between the two teams as neither team found the scoreboard until the fifth inning. In the opening four innings, the Trojans tallied three hits but could not find their way around the bags to home plate.
• In the top of the fifth inning, things took a turn for the Trojans who found themselves scoring five runs before the third out was recorded in the inning. The action started off with Charlene Thompson reaching first after getting hit by a pitch.
• A single by Heather Childress advanced Thompson and put runners on first and second for the Trojans. A sacrifice bunt by Hannah Burress advanced the two base runners to third and second so UMO had runners in scoring position.
• Eileen Barrera singled to the shortstop and scored Thompson for the first run while Childress advanced to third putting runners on the corners and UMO on the scoreboard 1-0. Mikayla Koch came in to pinch run for Barrera and found her way to second after stealing a base during Cassandra Lassiter's at-bat.
• Lassiter hit a single to centerfield that scored Childress for the second run and advanced Koch to third. Lassiter made it to second after stealing a base herself while Megan Bryant was at the plate.
• Bryant singled to the pitcher on a bunt and beat the throw to first for a hit and scored Koch for the third run of the inning while also advancing Lassiter to third.
• The final two runs of the inning came following a failed pickoff attempt as Bryant stole second and scored on the throwing error that went into the outfield. Lassiter scored on the throw that put UMO up 5-0 heading into the bottom half of the inning.
• The teams were scoreless in the sixth but UMO found three more in the top of the seventh that gave them their final score of 8-0. The seventh inning began with a groundout from Barrera but Lassiter's bat remained hot as she hit a double to right center field putting herself in scoring position.
• Lassiter advanced to third on a single to the shortstop from Bryant that put runners on the corners for Alexis Oliver's at-bat. 
• Oliver took a few pitches before connecting with one she liked and smashed the ball over the outfield wall for a three-run home run giving UMO the eight-run lead.

KEY STATS

• The Trojans scored eight runs on 10 hits and two errors by the Rams. 
• Mallory Ratcliff (W:4-3) pitched all seven innings giving up three hits and no runs, walked one and struck out 10 of 26 batters faced.

GAME 2 INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 10 - Winston-Salem State 8
Records: Mount Olive (14-8), Winston-Salem State (9-3)
Location: Twin City Field | Winston-Salem, N.C. 

How It Happened
Play-by-Play

GAME RUNDOWN

• Thompson led off game two with a single to left field. After stealing second and advancing to third on an error by the center fielder, she came home following a single through the left-side by Alyssa Pickle to give UMO a 1-0 lead.
• Winston-Salem State put up seven runs in the bottom of the second inning including three from a home run that went over the outfield walk.
• The Trojans responded in the top of the third with six runs to knot the score at seven all. It all began with a solo homer by Barrera to cut the difference to five runs, 7-2.
• Pickle doubled to left center and two batters later, Koch, who went in to pinch run for Pickle, was batted home on a double by Burress for the third run of the game.
• A Bryant single put runners on the corners. Burress scored following a Callie Ferrell single and advanced to second on the throw while advancing Bryant to third.
• Thompson returned to the plate for her second appearance of the inning and singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw. During the Thompson at-bat, Bryant scored and Ferrell went to third.
• The last two runs scored after Childress singled to short and sent Ferrell and Thompson home.
• The teams went scoreless in the fourth and Mount Olive took a three-run lead in the top of the fifth as Ferrell hit a home run that score Burress who reached on a walk.
• Thompson crossed the plate for the 10th run of the game after reaching base on balls, stealing second and ran home on a Childress single to right centerfield.
• UMO was held scoreless in the next two innings while WSSU tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, but was only able to score one as they fell 10-8 to the Trojans.

KEY STATS

• Callie Ferrell and Eileen Barrera each recorded home runs in the game.
• Charlene Thompson crossed the three times, while Megan Bryant and Ferrell scored twice.
• Heather Childress and Ferrell each batted in three runs.

NEXT

Mount Olive hits the road for their next set of contests as they travel to Limestone and Converse for a pair of Conference Carolinas match-ups. The Trojans and Saints take to Babe Ruth Field in Gaffney, S.C. for a 1 and 3 P.M. doubleheader on Saturday, while the Valkyries and Trojans meet on Tyger River Park Field in Spartanburg, S.C. for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader matinee, also, at 1 and 3 P.M.