Killough tosses no-hitter in sweep over Winston-Salem State

MOUNT OLIVE – Junior pitcher Hannah Killough tossed a six-inning no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader and set the school record with 15 strikeouts as the Trojans opened the season with a pair of run-rule victories against Winston-Salem State, posting an 8-0 shutout win in game one before putting on an offensive display in a 17-0 victory in game two at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field Feb. 6.

The reigning Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, Killough (1-0) faced a total of 20 batters while striking out the side three times on 91 pitches.

Junior first baseman Cana Shrock delivered her first career multi-homer game after finishing three for three with four RBI and two runs scored. Fellow junior designated player Carly Curcio went two for three from the plate with a pair of RBI and two runs scored, while freshman second baseman Emily Cassidy also went two for three with two runs scored.

UMO opened the scoring in the first when junior center fielder Courtlynn Cooney and Cassidy each reached base on singles. After a popout and a runner caught stealing at third base, Curcio laced a single to right center to put UMO ahead 1-0. Shrock followed with a massive two-run blast over the left-center field fence to increase the lead to 3-0 in the first inning. After a scoreless second, the Trojans registered back-to-back singles with one out before Curcio ripped a double to center field to score Cassidy from second base to increase the lead to 4-0. Shrock stepped up to the plate and once again hit a bomb to left field for her second home run of the day to stretch the lead to 6-0 in the third.

In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore shortstop Olivia Reardon smacked a double to center field before scoring on a one-out single from sophomore left fielder Alyssa Smothers to increase the lead to 7-0. Following a pair of wild pitches and a walk, Smothers advanced home on a throwing error after a stolen base by freshman Olivia Castillo to seal the 8-0 run-rule win.

In game two, Mount Olive erupted for 17 runs on 19 hits with five different players collecting multi-hit games. Reardon went four for four with a two-run homer, five RBI and three runs scored, while Curcio finished three for four with three RBI and two runs scored. Cassidy produced a pair of hits with one run scored and junior third baseman Kylie Emanuele tallied two hits, one RBI and two runs scored. Smothers also finished with two hits and one RBI.

UMO took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Cooney reached base on a throwing error before scoring later on a wild pitch. Emanuele and Shrock delivered consecutive singles with one out before advancing into scoring position with a double steal. With two outs, Reardon registered an RBI single to left field before two runs crossed the plate later in the inning on a dropped fly ball in left field.

In the bottom of the second, the Trojans batted around with six runs scoring on four extra base hits, including a two-run homer from Reardon. Mount Olive brought three more runs across the plate in the bottom of the third after a pair of RBI doubles from Curcio and designated player/pitcher junior Caroline White to extend the advantage to 13-0.

UMO scored its final three runs in the bottom of the fourth, as sophomore Meredith Smith belted her first career two-run homer to left-center before Reardon laced an RBI triple to left field to take a commanding 17-0 lead.

White earned the win (1-0) after tossing two scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts while facing seven batters. Sophomore Callie Thornton registered the start and yielded just one hit with three strikeouts over two innings, while senior Lauren King recorded one inning in relief with three strikeouts and two walks.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics