Mount Olive drops road doubleheader at King

BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Trojan offense was limited to a combined nine hits on April 20 in a pair of losses in a doubleheader at King in Conference Carolinas play, suffering a 5-0 defeat in game one before falling by a 7-4 margin in game two.

With the losses, the University of Mount Olive softball team dropped to 23-17 this season with a 12-8 mark in conference action. Meanwhile, King improved to 29-20 overall with a 14-6 record in league play.

In game one, UMO escaped a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the first before the Tornado broke through in the second frame with back-to-back RBI singles and an error to take a 3-0 lead. Following a scoreless third inning, King added to its advantage with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, including an RBI double to right-center, 5-0. Mount Olive had its best scoring opportunity in the sixth when they left runners on the corners to end the inning.

Junior Hannah Killough suffered the loss (12-7) despite throwing a complete game. She surrendered five earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk issued in six innings pitched.

In game two, junior Courtlynn Cooney led off the contest with an infield single before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. With one out, fellow junior Kylie Emanuele delivered an RBI single up the middle before freshman Bri Verme laced an RBI double to right-center to give UMO a 2-0 edge. In the bottom half, the Tornado responded with six runs on five hits, highlighted by a three-run homer and a two-run home run to capture a 6-2 lead. In the top of the second, junior Cana Shrock drew a leadoff walk before eventually advancing to third after King loaded the bases. During the next at-bat, Shrock crossed the plate on a wild pitch to cut into the deficit, 6-3.

The Trojans attempted to close the gap in the third after back-to-back singles to start the inning. With one out, the baserunners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch before consecutive outs ended the threat. In the bottom half, the Tornado scored another run on an RBI bunt single to third base, 7-3. In the top of the fifth, Emanuele launched a solo homer to left-center field, her 10th of the season, to trim the deficit to 7-4. Mount Olive would strand two more runners in scoring position in the top of the sixth, as King sealed the doubleheader sweep.

Emanuele finished two for four with a homer, two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base, while Verme went two for four with one RBI.

Sophomore Callie Thornton was saddled with the loss (3-4) after yielding six earned runs on four hits with two walks over 2/3 inning. Verme pitched effectively in relief, scattering four hits with one earned run and two strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings pitched.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics