Queens takes two from Lady Trojans

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 11, 2005 1:56 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive rallied from a two-run deficit, but Britne' Stubbs hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to lift Queens to a 4-3 victory over the Trojans in game two of a Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference softball doubleheader Sunday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.

Queens took game one 5-0 as pitcher Meg Barker came within two outs of a no-hitter before giving up a one-out single in the seventh.

In the first game, Stubbs drove the first pitch of the game into the gap in left-center field for a double and scored after singles by Cynthia Ochoa and Danielle Woodford. Mount Olive (13-30 overall, 5-15 CVAC) got out of the jam when pitcher Ashley Napoles fielded a line drive and threw to Colleen Thomas at third for the inning-ending double play.

Queens (17-17, 8-4) added a run in the second and loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Mount Olive got out of the jam on a force out at the plate and an infield pop-up. The Royals added a run in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk and Erin Brummel's RBI-single keyed a two-run seventh.

Queens left the bases loaded in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings and finished with 12 runners left on base.

Barker walked Erin Wilson with one out in the bottom of the first, but after Wilson was caught stealing, Barker retired the side in order in each of the next five innings. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Wilson lined the first pitch down the right field line for a single to break up the no-hitter.

Barker walked Wilson in the first, but after Wilson was caught stealing, Barker retired the side in order in each of the next five innings.

Queens scored two unearned runs in the top of the first in game two as Stubbs sparked the inning with a leadoff single. The Trojans prevented further damage when Napoles, playing her first game of the season at shortstop, threw Danielle Woodford out at the plate when Melissa Stuhr walked and tried to induce a rundown between first and second.

Mount Olive threatened in the bottom of the first as Wilson reached on an error with one out, Jamie Pruitt drew a two-out walk and Kristina Smatt singled to load the bases. But Queens starter Shea Chaffee got out of the inning on a strikeout.

The Trojans got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second as Jackie Wyman led off with a single and went to third on Colleen Thomas' one-out double. Melissa Bright walked to load the bases and Wyman beat the throw to the plate on Wilson's grounder to the right side. Thomas scored on Napoles' sacrifice fly to center to tie the game 2-2.

Mount Olive pitcher Shauna Cowdrey retired nine consecutive batters during one stretch and held Queens to only one more single through the sixth inning.

After being held to one hit in game one, Mount Olive had at least one hit in every inning in game two. But Queens reliever Jennifer Churchill, who started the third inning, kept the game tied until the Trojans scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth.

The Trojans loaded the bases with one out on infield singles by Bright and Napoles and an infield error. Pruitt bounced to the pitcher and Churchill threw Bright out at the plate, but the throw to first was wide and Wilson, who reached on an error, scored from second to give Mount Olive its first lead at 3-2.

Serena Fierro walked to lead off the seventh and Erin Crager reached first when Fierro was forced at second. Stubbs then drove the first pitch over the left field fence to put Queens back on top.

Churchill retired the first two batters, but the Trojans stayed alive on Thomas' single through the left side and Bright's infield single. But Wilson grounded out to second to end the game. Wilson had reached base in six of her previous seven plate appearances in the doubleheader. Mount Olive left 14 runners on base.

Bright and Smatt finished with two hits apiece for the Trojans.

Sunday's doubleheader marked the CVAC regular season finale for Mount Olive. The Trojans return to action Tuesday with a recently added non-conference doubleheader at home against Chowan. Game time is 4 p.m. at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. Queens plays host to Erskine Tuesday at 3 p.m. in a CVAC doubleheader.

MOC baseball

wins sixth straight

Mount Olive scored four runs in the top of the ninth to rally from a three-run deficit and defeat St. Andrews 5-4 Sunday at Laurinburg. The win is the sixth in a row for Mount Olive and evens the Trojans' record at 22-22. The game does not count towards the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference standings.

Mount Olive returns to action Tuesday as the Trojans travel to Salisbury for a non-conference doubleheader against Catawba. Game time is 3 p.m.