Mount Olive sweeps softball double-header

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 19, 2004 1:55 PM

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FAYETTEVILLE -- Kristie Smith's grand slam home run capped a five-run fourth inning and Erin Case tossed a six-hit shutout as Mount Olive went onto defeat host Fayetteville State 9-0 in game two to complete a doubleheader Thursday at Fayetteville. In game one, Shauna Cowdrey tossed a four-hitter and drove in two runs to lead the Trojans to a 3-2 victory.

Mount Olive (9-13) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first in game one as Cowdrey's sacrifice fly in foul territory plated Melissa Bright with the game's first run. Cowdrey singled home Erin Wilson in the third and Niki Price scored on Case's sacrifice bunt in the fourth to give the Trojans a 3-0 lead. Fayetteville State (1-14) came back with two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Cowdrey (5-5) retired the side in order in the each of the final three innings to seal the win.

Cowdrey struck out four and walked none.

In game two, Mount Olive again scored early as Sam Beavers' first-inning rbi-single gave the Trojans a 1-0 lead. Fayetteville State loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first, but Case got out of the inning with a fly out and a fielder's choice. Beavers singled home another run in a two-run third inning to give the Trojans a 3-0 lead.

Mount Olive loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth, and after Wilson's bunt single brought in a run, Smith hit her first career home run to clear the bases and extend the Trojans' lead to 8-0. Wilson tripled home a run in the top of the fifth to complete the scoring as the Trojans recorded their first run-rule win of the season. Case finished with four strikeouts and no walks.

With the sweep, Mount Olive surpasses its win total from all of last season. Mount Olive returns to action Sunday as the Trojans travel to Banner Elk to face Lees-McRae in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference action. Game time is 1 p.m.