MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Barton softball team (21-3, 8-1) split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader with Mount Olive (29-7, 10-2) Tuesday evening at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. The Trojans won the first contest by a 3-1 score while the Bulldogs rallied to win the nightcap, 7-5, to force the split.
In addition, the Bulldogs saw their 11-game winning streak snapped and suffered their first league setback of the year.
Game One – Mount Olive 3, Barton 1
Mount Olive's Hannah Killough (Pageland, S.C.) improved to 14-4 on the season after limiting the Bulldogs to just one run with 12 strikeouts in earning the complete game victory. The Trojans' Kylie Emanuele (Corona, Calif.) came through with the clutch hit, a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Barton junior first baseman
AnnaKate Gilchrist (Clayton, N.C.) helped the Bulldogs avoid the shutout with a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning. Barton sophomore
Rilee Jones (Virginia Beach, Va.) fell to 5-3 after being tagged with the loss.
Game Two – Barton 7, Mount Olive 5
Trailing by a 5-3 score, the Bulldogs rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn the split. Barton junior designated hitter
Sloane Correa (Greenville, N.C.) came through with the game-winning two-run single with two outs after junior third baseman
Lindsey Massengill (Pine Level, N.C.) tied the score at five with a two-run double earlier in the frame.
Barton senior shortstop
Mikayla Rose (Beaufort, N.C.) hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season – a two-run shot in the first frame – while Gilchrist improved to 4-0 after earning the win in relief. Gilchrist allowed one run over the final three innings.
Mount Olive lost despite a three-run home run from Cassandra Lassiter (Pikeville, N.C.) and a solo home run from Cana Shrock (Nashville, N.C.). Killough (14-5) was tagged with the loss.
Barton remains on the road to take on King in a league doubleheader in Bristol, Tenn., on Friday beginning at 1:00 p.m., while Mount Olive travels to Tigerville, S.C., to take on North Greenville in a conference doubleheader Friday at 2:00 p.m.
