Mount Olive softball swept

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 1, 2007 2:30 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Colleen Thomas' first collegiate home run in the fifth inning tied the game, but nationally 27th-ranked Wingate struck for two runs in the top of the seventh to defeat Mount Olive 3-1 in game two of a non-conference softball doubleheader Wednesday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. In the first game, Mount Olive held Wingate to one run heading into the sixth inning, but Megan McPhail drove in five runs in the final two innings on a pair of bases-loaded hits as the Trojans fell 6-0.

Mount Olive (9-3) fell behind 1-0 in game two after Courtney Wagner doubled in a run for Wingate (16-2) with two outs in the top of the third. Trojan starter Krystal Bourne recorded six strikeouts and allowed only four hits in five-plus innings to keep Mount Olive within a run.

The Trojans had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the third after Bailey Harrell's two-out double and a walk to Jenny Jackson put two runners on base, but Wingate starter Ashley Green (13-2) got out of the inning with a strikeout, one of seven K's in the game.

Mount Olive got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth as Thomas led off by sending a 2-2 pitch out of the park to tie the game 1-1. The Trojans had the bases loaded with two outs on singles by Tiffanie Pittman and Morgan Whaley and another walk to Jackson, but Green again escaped with a strikeout.

After two walks gave Wingate runners on first and second with one out in the top of the sixth, Shauna Cowdrey (1-2) relieved Bourne and got out of the inning on a force out and a ground out. But the Bulldogs regained the lead in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk to Wagner and an rbi-single by McPhail. Green retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Jackson started on the mound for Mount Olive in game one and escaped a bases-loaded jam with nobody out in the top of the second, retiring the final three batters on a pair of strikeouts and a force out at home to keep the game scoreless. Wingate struck for a run in the top of the third when LaRonda McLain led off the inning with a bunt single in front of the plate and came all the way home when the throw to first went into right field.

Green, who went the distance in both games for Wingate, retired the first 12 batters before Jackson led off the bottom of the fifth with a single up the middle. Pinch-runner Karen Thornton advanced to second on Morgan Whaley's sacrifice and went to third on a wild pitch with two outs. But Courtney Wallace was robbed of an RBI base hit on McPhail's diving stop on Wallace's shot to the right side.

Wingate loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the sixth on a pair of bunt singles and a slow roller down the third base line. McPhail followed with a double to the gap in left-center to clear the bases and extend the Bulldogs' lead to 4-0. McPhail drove in two more runs on a single with two outs in the top of the seventh as her looper landed just fair on the edge of the grass behind third base.

Jackson (3-1) finished with eight strikeouts in her first loss as a Trojan. Six of Wingate's 10 hits never left the infield as three of the Bulldogs' runs were unearned.

Green finished with a one-hitter for Wingate with 10 strikeouts, including seven in a row from the second through fourth innings.

Mount Olive returns to action Friday as the Trojans play host to Bluefield State in a non-conference doubleheader. Game time is 3 p.m. at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.

Wingate begins play Friday in the Catawba College Invitational at Salisbury.

Game 1

Wingate 001 003 2 -- 6 10 1

Mount Olive 000 000 0 -- 0 1 2

Pitchers: Wingate - Ashley Green. Mount Olive - Jenny Jackson.

Win - Ashley Green (12-2) Loss-Jackson (3-1)

T-1:48

Game 2

Wingate 001 000 2 -- 3 6 0

Mount Olive 000 010 0 -- 1 9 0

Pitchers: Wingate - Ashley Green. Mount Olive - Krystal Bourne; Shauna Cowdrey(6).

Win - Ashley Green (13-2) Loss-Cowdrey(1-2)

HR MOC - Thomas (1).

T-2:00 A-244