MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The University of Mount Olive Softball Team (39-11) earned a pair of wins over visiting Emory & Henry College Softball Team (26-17) split a doubleheader with Lees-McRae College (17-23) on Monday afternoon. The Wasps claimed a 9-4 win in the opener while the Bobcats rolled with a 16-3 victory in five innings in game two.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Mount Olive 5, Emory & Henry 2
GAME TWO – Mount Olive 6, Emory & Henry 2
LOCATION – Mount Olive, North Carolina
VENUE – Cassell Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (26-17); Lees-McRae (39-11, 18-6 Carolinas)
Game One – Mount Olive 5, Emory & Henry 2
Emory & Henry got on the board in the top of the first inning as freshman shortstop Lydia Taylor (Salem, Va.) hit a RBI single to centerfield. In the fourth, the Wasps stretched their lead to 2-0 as freshman centerfielder Mackenzie Williams (St. Augustine, Fla.) singled through the left side to plate fifth-year third baseman Allyson Steadman (Kingsport, Tenn.).
The Trojans answered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth as Kylie Emanuele and Ashlyn Porter both drove in two with base knocks. In the fifth, UMO added an insurance run for the final 5-2 margin as Emanuele singled through the left side.
Hannah Killough earned the complete-game victory, scattering one earned run on five hits and six strikeouts. E&H sophomore Avery Adkins (Goodview, Va.) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts over six innings.
Game Two – Mount Olive 6, Emory & Henry 2
Mount Olive opened up a 1-0 lead in the first on a RBI double down the left field line by Madison Morgan. The Trojans made it a 3-0 contest after three as Courtlynn Cooney scored on an error after a double steal and Megan Bryant came around to score on a wild pitch later in the inning.
In the fourth, E&H closed the gap to 3-1 on an infield single by sophomore designated player Desi Norris (Sims, N.C.). In the bottom of the inning, UMO pushed the margin out to 6-1. The Wasps got one run back in the sixth as Taylor hit a solo home run for the final 6-2 margin.
Hailey Kessinger picked up the complete-game win, allowing just two runs on seven hits. Wasp freshman MaKayla Dowdy (Blacksburg, Va.) suffered the loss with three runs on four hits in two-plus innings.
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