Trojan softball sweeps CIAA member N.C. Central

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 23, 2007 2:18 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Morgan Whaley drove in three runs in each game and came within a single of hitting for the cycle in game two as Mount Olive recorded a pair of come-from-behind victories over North Carolina Central 10-7 and 12-4 in a non-conference softball doubleheader Thursday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. Jenny Jackson collected three hits in each game and recorded nine strikeouts on the mound for the win in game two.

After spotting North Carolina Central single runs in each of the first three innings in game one, Mount Olive (7-1) loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the third as Erin Wilson drew a leadoff walk and LaDawn Montgomery and Kat Cahoon reached on bunt singles. Whaley, who belted a wind-aided triple to left in the first inning, cleared the bases with a double down the left field line to tie the game 3-3. Jackson followed with a line single to center to give the Trojans their first lead of the game.

North Carolina Central (6-4) tied the game in the top of the fourth on Kendra Tetter's two-out, RBI double. But the Trojans would strike for three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take the lead for good.

After Cahoon singled and Whaley walked with one out in the fifth, Jackson singled to plate Cahoon. An error moved Jackson and Whaley to second and third and Whaley scored on Jamie Pruitt's sacrifice fly. Kensie Cobb followed with an RBI single to center to give the Trojans a 7-4 lead.

The Trojans loaded the bases with one out in the sixth and Jackson ripped a sharp grounder down the third base line to drive in two runs. Pruitt's ground out to the right side brought home another run and extended the Trojans' lead to 10-4.

North Carolina Central rallied in the top of the seventh as Sophia Blue and Asha Sutton led off with singles and Michelle Ishida belted a three-run homer to left to cut the Trojans' lead in half. But Krystal Bourne came out of the bullpen and after allowing a one-out single, retired the next two batters on a ground out and strikeout to record the save.

Ashley Raynor (2-0) pitched two-plus innings in relief for the win. Stacey Greene (3-2) went the distance North Carolina Central and took the loss.

Cahoon went 3-for-3 for the Trojans, while Jackson finished with four runs batted in. Blue went 3-for-4 for North Carolina Central, while Ishida had four RBI.

In the second game, North Carolina Central took advantage of Trojan miscues in the top of the third inning and broke a scoreless tie with four unearned runs. After Jackson retired the first two batters, the Eagles loaded the bases on a catcher's interference, an infield error and a hit by pitch. Ishida, who went the distance on the mound for the Eagles in game two, helped herself with a two-run single and DeSanbra Franklin followed with a two-run single down the left field line.

The runs were the first allowed by Jackson this year, but her earned run average remains at 0.00.

Mount Olive came back in the fifth inning as Cahoon reached on an error and Whaley followed with a double. After an illegal pitch scored the Trojans' first run, Jackson doubled to center and scored on Pruitt's single to pull the Trojans within 4-3. Pruitt advanced to second on an error and scored the tying run on Cobb's single. Cobb scored all the way from first on Melissa Bright's sacrifice as a throwing error put Mount Olive on top 5-4.

North Carolina Central had a chance to tie in the top of the fifth on a trick play as Ishida walked with a runner on third and continued on to second. The throw to Bright was not in time, but Bright's throw beat Blue at the plate as Cobb put on the tag. Jackson would not allow another Eagle baserunner.

The Trojans would break the game open with a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by Whaley's two-run homer with nobody out. Raynor doubled home a run, Bright singled with the bases loaded and Pruitt scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 10-4. Cahoon led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and scored on Whaley's triple. Whaley scored what proved to be the winning run on Jackson's second double of the game as the eight-run rule was invoked.

Jackson (2-0) finished with a three-hitter, while Ishida (0-2) took the loss.

Cahoon, Cobb and Pruitt collected two hits apiece for Mount Olive in the nightcap.

Mount Olive opens Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference play this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders on the road. The Trojans head to Belmont on Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest against Belmont Abbey, then travel to Misenheimer on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. to take on Pfeiffer. North Carolina Central plays host to Division I Maryland-Eastern Shore for a doubleheader Sunday at 3 p.m.

Game 1

N.C. Central 111 100 3 -- 7 12 3

Mount Olive 004 033 x -- 10 10 1

Pitchers: N.C. Central - Stacey Greene. Mount Olive - Shauna Cowdrey; Ashley Raynor(4); Krystal Bourne(7).

Raynor faced 3 batters in the 7th.

Win-Raynor(2-0) Save-Bourne(1) Loss-Greene (3-2)

Hitters: NCCU-Sophia Blue (3-4, 3 runs, 2 stolen bases); Michelle Ishida (2-4, home run, 4 RBI). MOC-Jenny Jackson (3-4, 3 RBI); Kat Cahoon (3-4, 3 runs); Morgan Whaley (2-3, double, triple, 3 RBI).

HR NCCU - Michelle Ishida

T-1:55

Game 2

N.C. Central 004 000 -- 4 3 3

Mount Olive 000 552 -- 12 14 2

Pitchers: N.C. Central -Michelle Ishida. Mount Olive - Jenny Jackson.

Win -- Jackson (2-0) Loss -- Ishida (0-2)

Ishida faced 3 batters in the 6th.

Hitters: NCCU- Michelle Ishida (1-2, 2 RBI); DeSanbra Franklin (1-3, 2 RBI). MOC-Morgan Whaley (3-4, double, triple, home run, 3 RBI); Jenny Jackson (3-3, 2 doubles, 2 rbi); Jamie Pruitt (2-2, 2 runs, RBI).

HR MOC - Morgan Whaley (2).

None out, 1 on when game ended

T-1:50 A-195