Conference Carolinas softball: Trojans bounced into consolation bracket

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on April 20, 2008 1:30 PM

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SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. -- Hitless in last year's season-ending tournament, Kat Cahoon is having the time of her life in the inaugural 2008 Conference Carolinas softball championships.

Cahoon belted a walk-off, three-run homer as third-seeded Mount Olive dispatched 10th-seeded St. Andrews 10-2 from the Conference Carolinas softball tournament on Saturday afternoon.

It was her second home run of the tournament. She triggered a four-run, fifth-inning outburst as the Trojans battled for a come-from-behind, 9-3 triumph over Limestone (S.C.) University on Friday.

Mount Olive (28-19 overall) faced in-state rival Pfeiffer late Saturday evening for a berth in today's championship game. The tournament winner earns the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional.

Cahoon finished 0-for-9 in last year's tournament. Through two games this weekend, she's batting 5-for-6 with four extra-base knocks.

In game one, Cahoon helped ignite the middle-inning rally with a bunt that turned into a double. The ball landed between the Limestone pitcher and catcher, and Cahoon alertly headed to second base, which was uncovered on the play.

Jenny Jackson later smashed a two-run homer, her 11th of the season, over the center-field fence to put Mount Olive up 5-3. The Trojans added four sixth-inning runs, including Bailey Harrell's two-RBI single and Jackson's RBI groundout.

Mount Olive finished with 10 hits, including eight in the sixth and seventh innings combined.

Anna Turvin emerged the winning pitcher. She tossed a two-hitter in game two for her 12th victory of the season inside the pitcher's circle.

In the evening's final game, however, in-state rival Pfeiffer University pushed across two eighth-inning unearned runs and turned back the Trojans, 3-2.

The fourth-seeded Falcons advanced to the title game. Meanwhile, Mount Olive awaits the winner of an elimination-round game between 10th-seeded St. Andrews and top-seeded Coker.

The victor of that game meets Pfeiffer.