Trojans split twinbill with Pace (N.Y.) College

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 21, 2007 2:39 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Bailey Harrell hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Mount Olive went on to defeat Pace 5-2 in game one of a non-conference softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.

The Trojans' seven-game winning streak came to an end as Pace prevailed 2-0 in the nightcap. Trojan starting pitcher Shauna Cowdrey had her personal seven-game winning streak snapped, despite allowing only one earned run.

Mount Olive (25-8) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Morgan Whaley and Jenny Jackson both reached on a hit by pitch to put runners on first and second with two outs. After falling behind in the count 0-2, Harrell worked the count even and drilled her second home run of the season.

Pace (3-1) got on the scoreboard in the top of the second as Julia Hunt lined a single just inside the first base line and Missy Dubey scored from second to cut the Trojans' lead to 3-1.

The Trojans added two runs in the bottom of the second as Kat Cahoon drew a leadoff walk and scored on a single by Melissa Bright, who advanced to second on the throw. Bright stole third and scored on a wild pitch.

After the second inning, pitching and defense took over for both teams.

Trojan starter Jackson (7-3) struck out the side in the fourth inning and retired the side in order on five pitches in the fifth. Relief pitcher Christine Ermer recorded three strikeouts in the final two innings. Ermer was helped by shortstop Courtney Wallace's diving catch on a line drive in the sixth.

Jackson and Ermer combined on a six-hitter. Two of the three hits allowed by Jackson were infield singles.

Pace starter Kelly Kinyon (0-1) finished with a five-hitter and did not allow a hit after the third inning, retiring 10 consecutive batters during one stretch. Pace centerfielder Christina Pane made catches on two line drives and robbed Pittman of a potential extra-base hit with a back-handed catch while running toward the fence.

In the second game, Pace scored an unearned run in the top of the first off a throwing error on a double steal as Pane came in to score.

The Trojans threatened in the bottom of the first as Pittman and Whaley both singled, but Pace pitcher Kiryl Shada (2-0) got out of the inning on a strikeout and a foul out.

Cowdrey (8-3) retired the side in order in the third on eight pitches, including back-to-back three-pitch strikeouts. After giving up consecutive singles in the fourth, Cowdrey struck out the next two batters and escaped the jam on a ground out. Cowdrey finished with six strikeouts.

Mount Olive had another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fourth on Harrell's two-out double and a single by Jamie Pruitt. But Wallace's hard-hit line drive was caught by Pane in center field. Wallace was also robbed of a base hit in the second inning when right fielder Julia Hunt charged on a ball hit to the outfield and threw Wallace out at first.

The Trojans had their best scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth with runners on first and second and nobody out. But Pane caught Harrell's line drive in center field and doubled up the lead runner on second.

Pace added an insurance run as Carolyn Krause doubled down the left field line and Pane's looper behind the second base bag got past the Trojan outfield for a triple, scoring Krause.

Pane tried for an inside-the-park home run, but was thrown out at the plate on Pruitt's relay from centerfielder Erin Wilson.

Mount Olive was retired in order in the seventh as Shada finished with a four-hitter.

Mount Olive returns to action Wednesday as the Trojans travel to Pembroke to take on UNC Pembroke in a non-conference doubleheader. Game time is 2 p.m.