Trojans sweep Queens

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on April 9, 2009 1:46 PM

• Print
• Email

MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- Kelly Minshew provided the game-clinching hit in the eighth inning as Mount Olive completed its doubleheader sweep of Conference Carolinas softball rival Queens University on Wednesday evening.

Minshew's two-out, base knock capped a 3-2 victory in the nightcap at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. Sarah Saunders threw a complete-game shutout and Jenny Jackson belted a second-inning home run as the Trojans took the opener, 1-0.

Mount Olive (23-16-1 overall) concluded conference play 11-5.

Tied at 2-2 after regulation, the Royals started the eighth with a runner at second base via the international tiebreaker rule. After a sacrifice play, Trojan third baseman Allison Czerski gunned a runner down at the plate and Snyder coaxed an inning-ending pop-up to keep Queens off the board.

Karen Thornton started the Trojans' game-winning rally at second base. She advanced to third on a sacrifice. Royals reliever Shantel Dodge, who ranked 12th nationally with 10.7 strikeouts per seven innings, worked to an 0-2 count against Minshew.

Minshew fouled off several pitches, drew even in the count and ripped the 11th pitch of her at-bat up the middle. Thornton scored to touch off the celebration. Minshew finished the game with two hits.

Sasha Snyder retired all 15 batters she faced in relief to earn the mound win.

Saunders permitted three hits and allowed just two balls to leave the infield in the opener. She retired 12 consecutive batters before yielding a two-out, infield single in the sixth inning.

Jackson cranked her fifth homer of the season and third in her last seven outings overall as Mount Olive extended its win streak to seven straight games.

Conference play continues through Sunday, leaving the Trojans' seeding in limbo until all games have been completed.