Trojans, Saints split twinbill on softball diamond

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 23, 2013 11:22 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Carly White took a two-hit shutout into the seventh inning and survived a no-out bases loaded jam for her fifth consecutive complete-game victory as Mount Olive defeated Limestone 6-1 in game one of a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.

Savannah Becker went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and Cassie Lowe belted a three-run homer and drove in four runs for the Trojans. Becker and Lowe, the Nos. 8 and 9 batters in the lineup, combined to go 5-for-6 with all six Trojan rbi's.

The Trojans had their eight-game winning streak snapped in game two, falling 6-5. Katie Moore hit a three-run homer for Mount Olive. With the split, the Trojans are tied for first place in the conference standings with Limestone (S.C.) and second-year member King (Tenn.) College.

In the opener, White (9-2) struck out five, including three in a row in the first and second innings. She walked just one batter and surrendered four hits on the day.

MOC broke the game open in the sixth.

Lauren McGrath led off with a single to left and Jesse Crist beat out a bunt single. Becker singled to left center to drive in McGrath and give Mount Olive a 3-0 lead. Lowe then sent a 3-2 pitch over the left center-field fence for her first home run of the season.

In game two, Mount Olive rallied from a two-run deficit as Beth Overman sparked a four-run third inning with an RBI single and Moore sent a towering fly ball that just cleared the left-field fence to give the Trojans a 4-2 lead.

It was Moore's third home run of the year.

The Saints rallied to tie the game at 4-4 and took the lead for good with two runs in the sixth inning. The Trojans got one run back, but couldn't complete their comeback attempt.

Mount Olive was outhit 14-5, but benefited from seven walks. Defensively, Smith and Overman combined on a pair of inning-ending 5-3 double plays. Both teams missed out on opportunities, each leaving 10 runners on base.

The Trojans left the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth innings.

Mount Olive (19-7 overall, 6-2 CC) plays host to in-state rival Lees-McRae on Monday at 1 p.m. The teams were scheduled to play today, but weather forecasts call for 90-percent rain.

Men's volleyball

MOUNT OLIVE -- The five Mount Olive College seniors honored before first serve against Conference Carolinas foe King (Tenn.) College responded in record-setting fashion Friday evening.

The quintet helped the Trojans post their program-best 21st victory of the season with a 25-19, 25-15, 25-13 over the Tornado inside Kornegay Arena. Seniors Dan Arnold, Tim Ebbecke, Adam Miracle, Alex Rivero and Giora Sela all started and played the entire match for MOC, which extended its win streak to 15 matches.

Arnold broke his own single-season school record with an eight-dig performance, giving him 222 for the year and boosting his career total to a program-best 522.

Miracle, the Trojans' all-time career kills leader with 919, provided six kills in the three-set sweep. Angel Dache provided 10 kills, four service aces and six blocks. Rivero cranked out nine kills.

Sela equaled a career high with eight blocks, while Ebbecke and Ben Casado logged five blocks apiece. MOC ended the night with 14 team blocks.

Casado handed out 28 assists.

The Trojans (24-3 overall, 14-0 CC) play host to in-state foe Pfeiffer U on Tuesday.

Men's lacrosse

BANNER ELK -- Mount Olive attempted 50 shots and came within 51/2 minutes of posting its first-ever shutout in program history during a 16-1 trouncing of Conference Carolinas men's lacrosse foe Lees-McRae on Saturday afternoon.

Cameron Walsh scored four goals for the Trojans, who improved to 6-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play this season. Matt Shields and Matt Devoy added two goals apiece. Tyler Feniello and Aaron Bowlan each scored once.

Rocky Bowman and Eli Dodgson combined for seven saves in goal.

Mount Olive plays host to No. 3-ranked Limestone, which was the NCAA Division II national runner-up last season, on Wednesday. Face-off is 4 p.m. at Amon Field.

Women's lacrosse

MISENHEIMER -- No. 6-ranked Pfeiffer U punched in 15 first-half goals and rolled past Mount Olive, 20-2, on the Conference Carolinas women's lacrosse scene Saturday afternoon.

Allie Dunn and Alysha Kulka scored the Trojans' goals.

The Trojans (6-5 overall, 1-3 CC) travel to in-state foe Chowan University on Thursday.