Trojans win two in at Smash Hit Tourney

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 8, 2007 2:49 PM

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SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Shauna Cowdrey tossed five shutout innings and Courtney Wallace keyed a pair of three-run innings with RBI doubles as Mount Olive defeated Seton Hill (Pa.) 7-0 in the Smash Hit Softball Tournament Wednesday at Savannah, Ga. Cowdrey, who pitched a scoreless inning in relief in the Trojans' second game of the day, extended her scoreless streak to 24 consecutive innings.

The Trojans made it a sweep on the day as Melissa Bright collected two of her three hits in a seven-run sixth inning to lead Mount Olive to a 10-2 victory over Davis and Elkins (W. Va.). The Trojans finished with a 3-1 record in the tournament, hosted by Savannah College of Art and Design.

Mount Olive (15-5) took a 1-0 lead over Seton Hill in the bottom of the second as Morgan Whaley reached on a fielder's choice and scored all the way from first on Kat Cahoon's RBI double.

Cowdrey (5-2) made the one-run lead stand going into the bottom of the fifth, allowing three hits and facing only one over the minimum, thanks to some defensive help. Catcher Kensie Cobb threw a runner out attempting to steal second in the first inning and the Trojans converted a 6-4-3 double play in the second.

Cowdrey, who has won each of her last four decisions, retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings.

The Trojan bats woke up in the fifth as Jamie Pruitt and Erin Wilson singled and Wallace and Jenny Jackson hit back-to-back two-out doubles to extend Mount Olive's lead to 4-0.

In the sixth inning, Cahoon scored on a passed ball, Allison Czerski scored on a ground out and Wallace doubled home Wilson for the Trojans' final run.

Christine Ermer pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

Mount Olive got on the scoreboard two batters into the game against Davis and Elkins as Tiffanie Pittman led off with a double and scored on Wilson's single to give the Trojans a quick 1-0 lead.

The Trojans added a run in the third as Wilson led off with a single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Whaley's single. After Davis and Elkins scored a run in the bottom of the third, Wallace singled and scored on an error in the fifth to give the Trojans' lead to 3-1.

Mount Olive broke the game open in the sixth as Bright led off with a double and eventually scored on a fielder's choice.

Wallace singled in a run and Jackson's sacrifice fly extended the lead to 6-1. Wallace scored on a wild pitch and Whaley scored on an error to make the score 8-1. Bright's single plated Krystal Bourne and Bailey Harrell scored on an error.

Jackson (5-2) struck out six and allowed one run on two hits in four innings. Cowdrey pitched the fifth and Ermer pitched the sixth inning.

Mount Olive returns to action this weekend as the Trojans head to Florence, S.C., to compete in the Patriot Invite, hosted by Francis Marion University. The Trojans play five games in three days, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. against Augusta State.