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March 29, 2024 9:32 am

Mount Olive splits doubleheader with North Greenville

MOUNT OLIVE – Junior Kylie Emanuele delivered a walk-off single in game two, as the Trojans split a doubleheader versus North Greenville on March 18 in Conference Carolinas action, suffering a 6-3 loss in game one before producing a 12-11 extra-innings win in game two.

With the split, the University of Mount Olive softball team holds a 13-11 overall record with a 2-2 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, North Greenville sits at 13-15 this season with a 1-3 mark in league action.

In game two, Mount Olive jumped ahead early with a 4-0 lead after sophomore Alyssa Smothers brought in the opening run with a groundout in the top of the first. With one out, junior Cana Shrock laced a triple to right field before a hit by pitch put runners on the corners. Freshman Bri Verme followed with an RBI single before junior Kylie Emanuele hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Freshman Kaylee Taylor registered a two-out RBI double down the right-field line to close out a four-run frame.

In the bottom of the third, Verme extended the lead on a solo homer to center field, her second of the season, to put UMO ahead 5-0. The Crusaders cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly before UMO scored four more runs in the bottom half. The inning was highlighted by a two-run homer by junior Ashlyn Porter, her fourth of the year, and an RBI triple by Emanuele to give UMO a 9-1 advantage. North Greenville closed the gap in the fifth with a three-run homer to right field before Smothers produced an RBI single to right-center to give the Trojans a 10-4 edge. The Crusaders rallied in the seventh to tie the contest at 10-10 after scoring six runs on two hits. With the international tiebreaker set in extra innings, each team scored in the eighth before a scoreless ninth. In the bottom of the 10th with two outs, Emanuele delivered a walk-off single up the middle to score Shrock from second and UMO won 12-11.

Junior Courtlynn Cooney finished 4 for 5 with three runs scored, one walk, and six stolen bases; while Verme went 4 for 6 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored. Emanuele tallied three hits, three RBI, one walk and a stolen base.

Verme earned the win (2-1) after tossing one inning of scoreless relief with one hit surrendered. Senior Lauren King received a no-decision after yielding five runs (four earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.

In game one, North Greenville established a 1-0 lead in the top of first on a sacrifice fly before a pair of scoreless innings by both teams. The Crusaders stretched their advantage to 4-0 in the top of the fourth on a three-run homer. In the bottom half, Emanuele hit an RBI double to right-center to cut the deficit to 4-1. Heading to the bottom of the sixth, Emanuele delivered again with a solo homer to left field, as the Trojans trailed 4-2. North Greenville responded with a pair of RBI singles to extend the lead back to four runs to lead 6-2. Porter registered an RBI single in the seventh before UMO left the bases loaded to finish the game, 6-3.

Junior Hannah Killough was dealt the loss (7-4) after allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with five walks and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics