Coker rallies twice against Trojans on softball diamond

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 28, 2008 2:32 PM

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COKER, S.C. -- Coker doesn't seem eager to share the Conference Carolinas regular-season softball championship this season.

The Cobras proved their point Thursday afternoon.

Mount Olive's defense permitted two eighth-inning runs as Coker escaped 8-7 in game two of their doubleheader and remained perfect in eight conference outings this spring. The Cobras (23-9 overall) collected the final six runs to win game one, 7-2.

The Trojans (18-13, 4-2 CC) suffered their third defeat in their last four outings after splitting a doubleheader with Peach Belt member UNC Pembroke on Tuesday.

Kat Cahoon and Aubrey Reinhard had three hits apiece, while Morgan Whaley supplied three RBI in game two. Cahoon's double and Reinhard's homer, her third of the season, enabled the Trojans to forge a 2-2 tie in the second game.

Coker benefited from three errors to claim a 6-2 lead in the fourth. Mount Olive tied the game at 6-6 in the seventh on Whaley's single, but the Cobras escaped on Jessica Blackwell's game-winning, eighth-inning single.

Cahoon's two-RBI single put the Trojans ahead 2-1 in the first game.

The Cobras took the lead for good with a four-run, third-inning surge.

Mount Olive continues Conference Carolinas action Saturday at Lees-McRae and entertains in-state member Pfeiffer on April 1.

Hawn Cup

THOMASVILLE -- Mount Olive swept the men's and women's Conference Carolinas basketball tournament crowns and climbed to sixth in the Hawn Cup standings after the winter sports season.

The Trojans have 50 points and trail Limestone (S.C.) by 3.25 points.

Despite lower-tier finishes in basketball, Lees-McRae retained its lead over Queens University by 4.5 points. Defending Cup champion Anderson (S.C.) is third, followed by Pfeiffer.

The top six schools are separated by 15.5 points.

The Cup is awarded in recognition of excellence in all Conference Carolinas sports. Points awarded in each sport are based on regular-season finish with bonus points given to the tournament champion and runner-up.

Tennis splits on road

WILSON -- Guilherme Serra's straight-set singles triumph helped Mount Olive defeat archrival Barton 7-2 in a Conference Carolinas men's tennis match.

Serra, the No. 2 seed, stopped the Dogs' Diego Salinas 6-4, 6-0.

Alex Queiros, Fred Barros and Aldo Barba also claimed a straight-set singles victory. Serra-Vitor Lage, Queiros-Daniel Mosteanu and Barros-Indra Mitra dominated doubles play.

The Trojans (9-7 overall) collected their fifth league victory in six tries this season. The Bulldogs (3-8) tumbled to 1-3 against conference opposition.

West Virginia swept the singles and doubles in a 9-0, non-conference victory over the Mount Olive women's tennis at the Barton College Tennis Complex.

The Trojans' Carol Aro won four games against her opponent in singles.

Still No. 1

The Mount Olive College baseball team is ranked No. 1 in three national polls and No. 1 in the latest South Atlantic Region poll.

Collegiate Baseball, Ping and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) each has the Trojans in the top spot. The ranking could change after Mount Olive split a non-conference doubleheader against in-state rival Catawba, which was ranked 28th by Collegiate Baseball.

On the region scene, the Trojans are No. 1 ahead of Peach Belt Conference members USC-Aiken and 2007 national runner-up Columbus State (Ga.) University. Fellow Conference Carolinas member Erskine is fourth, followed by PBC member Francis Marion.

Mount Olive resumes Conference Carolinas play at home Saturday against Coker (S.C.) College. Weather permitting, the doubleheader is slated for a 3 p.m. start. The Trojans are 15-0 against league opposition this season.

Monroe honored

Senior guard Lakeisha Monroe grabbed a spot on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) State Farm Coaches All-America honorable mention list.

Monroe, a transfer from Division I Georgia State University, becomes the first-ever All-American in the women's basketball history during the Division II era. She helped guide the Trojans to a program-best 21 wins, the Conference Carolinas tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA East Regional.

Easley, Streeter picked

Brandon Streeter earned first-team honors and Kendrick Easley picked up second-team recognition on the 2007-08 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) men's basketball team.

The duo helped lead Mount Olive to the Conference Carolinas regular-season and tournament titles. The Trojans logged a 24-win season and made an unprecedented fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA East Regional.

Streeter was named the Conference Carolinas player of the year and was a first-team, All-East Region selection.