MOC, Barton split Conference Carolinas twinbill

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on April 12, 2013 1:47 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive junior Carly White tossed a five-hitter and the Trojans batted around twice in the final three innings to pull away from Barton 8-2 in game one of a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field on Thursday evening.

The Bulldogs won the nightcap, 5-4.

White (11-3) retired the first 11 Barton batters she faced as her teammates built an early lead.

In the bottom of the second, center-fielder Savannah Becker got things rolling for MOC by slamming her first home run of the season over the left field wall against Barton starter Liz White (3-9). Kalie Smith followed with a single, then came around to score on a two-out single by Erin Brogan.

Brogan was a thorn in Barton's side all evening. She singled twice, drove in a pair, walked and scored a run. She chased home teammate Smith to start a three-run rally in the fourth. Smith led off with a double, then went to third on a single by Tiffany Hawley.

Brogan's RBI-hit brought home the first run in the frame. Three consecutive walks to Danielle Mitchell, Beth Overman and Katie Moore added two more for a 5-0 cushion.

In the nightcap, the Trojans saved all its offense until the final three innings.

Charles B. Aycock alum Autumn Pittman (3-10) held Mount Olive hitless over the first three innings, and the Bulldogs took advantage of five Trojan errors. Barton (8-24 overall, 5-15 CC) scored two runs in the third, another in the fifth and two in the sixth -- all unearned -- to take a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

In the seventh, the Trojans (26-10, 12-4) made things interesting as pinch-hitters Brogan and Kelsey Akers opened the frame with singles. After a fielder's choice, Overman singled home a run and Katie Moore followed with another RBI-hit to put the tying run on base.

Pittman who exited the game after five strong innings on the mound returned and gave up a sacrifice fly to Jennifer Jones to cut the lead to 5-4, but Pittman got a strikeout to end the game and give Barton the split.