MOC softball ends season

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 21, 2008 1:48 PM

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MOC Sports Information

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. -- Mount Olive seized a two-run lead in the opening inning, but fourth-seeded Pfeiffer rallied for a 4-2 victory in the 2008 Conference Carolinas softball championship game on Sunday evening.

The third-seeded, injury-riddled Trojans concluded the year 29-21 overall and reached the finals for the first time since 2000. Meanwhile, the Falcons (30-21 overall) didn't lose a game and clinched the automatic berth to the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional.

Morgan Whaley's sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice grounder accounted for Mount Olive's early lead against Pfeiffer. Junior right-hander Jenny Jackson, in her first start of the tournament, retired the first seven Falcons she faced through two-plus innings.

Pfeiffer shaved the deficit in half in the third inning and took the lead for good on Sarah Moore's two-run homer in the fourth. Teammate Dacia Ijames, who was named the tournament MVP, added a solo homer in the sixth inning.

Mount Olive put runners in scoring position in the fourth and sixth innings, but came up empty on each occasion.

In consolation-round play, Courtney Wallace's solo home run spearheaded a three-run, seventh-inning rally as Mount Olive dumped regular-season champion Coker (S.C.) 4-3.

Aubrey Reinhard's RBI sacrifice fly clinched the comeback.

The top-seeded Cobras grabbed a 3-0 lead on Jessica Blackwell's two-run, first-inning homer and Whitney Wallett's second-inning round-tripper. But Trojans hurler Anna Turvin (13-11) settled down to retire 15 of the next 17 batters she faced. She permitted a third-inning single and sixth-inning walk.

Held scoreless through five innings, Mount Olive broke through on Bailey Harrell's solo homer in the sixth. It was Harrell's sixth of the season and 23rd overall during her collegiate career.

Wallace belted a home run. Jackson drew a bases-loaded walk and Reinhard, a freshman, slapped a pitch down the left-field line to score Kat Cahoon for the game-winning run.

Jackson threw a scoreless seventh for her second save of the tournament.

Coker remained alive in the 11-team, double-elimination tournament with a losers' bracket victory over 10th-seeded St. Andrews.

Cahoon, Harrell and Turvin earned spots on the all-tournament team. It was the final game for two Trojan seniors -- Harrell and Wallace.