Shepherd College Athletics

MOUNT OLIVE TAKES PAIR FROM SHEPHERD

MOUNT OLIVE, NC --Shepherd College dropped a pair of games in the season opener in softball action at Mount Olive on Sunday afternoon. The Trojans rallied for a 6-5 win in nine innings in game one and gained the sweep in the nightcap with 5-0 triumph.

Shepherd had a four-run eighth inning to take a 5-1 lead in game one. A two-run double off the bat of Kelly Carpenter (Waynesboro, PA/ Waynesboro, HS) highlighting the inning.

The Trojans plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. Erin Wilson belted a two-run, two out to key the rally. Kim Goens, who went 4-for-5 for Mount Olive, had the game-winning RBI in the ninth.

Carpenter went 2-for-4 to lead the Rams. Jenn Canby (Martinsburg, WV/Martinsburg HS) was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Mount Olive starter Shauna Cowdrey went the distance to pick up the win. Shepherd starter Karen Burnette (Yorktown, VA/Tabb HS) recorded seven strikeouts before leaving in the eighth. Reliever Mia Zappacosta (Owings Mills, MD/McDonogh HS) stopped the Trojan rally in the eighth before surrendering a run in the ninth to take the loss.

Goens, Colleen Thomas, Melissa Bright and Erin Case had two hits each to pace the Trojans in the nightcap.

Carpenter, JoJo Small (Old Fields, WV/ Frankfort HS), and Erika Nagy (Damascus, MD/Damascus HS) each had a pair of hits to lead the Rams.

Ram starter Megan Hall (Keysville, VA/Randolph-Henry HS) took the loss, while Case picked up the win for Mount Olive.

Shepherd falls to 0-2 on the year, while Mount Olive improves to 3-4. The Rams return to action on Friday when they travel to the Catawba Tournament.

Shepherd 100 000 040 5 4 2

Mount Olive 100 000 041 6 8 3

Burnette, Leighty (8), Zappacosta (8) and Nagy; Cowdrey and Price.

HRs: none

WP: Cowdrey (1-1)

LP: Zappacosta (0-1)

Shepherd 000 000 0 0 6 0

Mount Olive 202 010 X 5 9 1

Hall and Nagy; Case and Price.

HRs: none

WP: Case (2-3)

LP: Hall (0-1)