WILSON, N.C. – The Barton softball team (17-19, 8-8) split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader with Mount Olive (21-15, 10-6) Wednesday afternoon at Jeffries Field. The Trojans took the first contest in nine innings, 2-1, before the Bulldogs rallied to win the nightcap, 7-3.
Game One – Mount Olive 2, Barton 1 (nine innings)
The Trojans' Adrianna Efird (Oakboro, N.C.) scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth inning.
The game moved to extra innings scoreless before each team plated a run in their halves of the eighth frame. Mount Olive's Courtlynn Cooney (Mechanicsville, Md.) and Barton senior third baseman
Lindsey Massengill (Pine Level, N.C.) both drove in runs for their respective squads.
On the mound, Mount Olive's Hannah Killough (Pageland, S.C.) (11-6) allowed just one run to go along with 10 strikeouts to earn the win while junior
Miranda Holmes (Godwin, N.C.) (3-7) was the hard-luck loser after striking out 10 batters and giving up two unearned runs. Both players went the distance.
Game Two – Barton 7, Mount Olive 3
Barton freshman outfielder
Makenzie Cyzick (Dayton, Va.) hit a three-run home run as part of a five-run third frame as the Bulldogs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to salvage the split.
Barton senior second baseman
Emily Bell (Bunn, N.C.) added two hits and two runs batted in while senior
Rilee Jones (Norfolk, Va.) (6-4) earned the victory after going the distance and striking out four batters.
For Mount Olive, Kylie Emanuele (Corona, Calif.) hit a home run and drove in all three runs for the visitors. Mount Olive's Lauren King (Clear Brook, Va.) fell to 5-5 after taking the loss.
Barton remains at home to take on King on Saturday in a league doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m., while Mount Olive hosts UNC Pembroke on Saturday starting at Noon for a conference doubleheader as well.
