The Belmont Abbey softball team battled Mount Olive for 11 innings in game one, before succumbing to the Trojans 2-1, and fell 12-1 in five innings in the nightcap as Mount Olive earned the sweep to move to 18-12 overall and 7-3 in Conference Carolinas. The Abbey falls to 8-24 overall and 2-8 in league play.

"Our best chance to win was in game one," Head Coach Ellie Hanover said. "Nikki threw so well. It's a shame we couldn't get the win for her. We just didn't execute when we needed to. We fought, but Mount Olive won the battle. We really missed having Emily (Self) on this trip. We struggled on the mound in game two. They came out swinging and we didn't have any answers."

In the first game, Nikki Faust held Mount Olive scoreless for seven innings as she carried a no-hitter for three and two-thirds innings before allowing a single with two outs in the fourth. Mount Olive pitcher Sarah Saunders was just as effective, as she kept the Abbey off the board until the two teams went to extra innings, as the Crusaders broke through in the eighth.

Chelsea Elmore was placed on second to begin the inning, and Shanie McConnell pinch hit for Savannah Carpenter. Elmore scored from second when McConnell's grounder was thrown wildly for an error. The Abbey had a chance to score more. After a pitching change, Carol-Anne Sherrill sacrificed McConnell to second. Kinsey McClure came in to pinch hit for Kelly Schweizer, but she popped out. McConnell then moved to third on a passed ball to put the second run just 60 feet away, but a strikeout ended the inning.

Mount Olive wasted no time deadlocking the contest at one. Megan Ready was placed on second, and a groundout to short moved her to third. She scored on a single to left by Kayla Voorhees to knot the game at one. Faust escaped further damage with a pair of groundouts as the game moved to the ninth inning.

There, the Abbey went down in order, but its defense extended the game to the tenth inning. Robbin Kennedy was placed on second. A flyout to right moved her to third. After a foul out, Kalie Smith sent a screaming grounder that was destined for rightfield and bring home the winning run, but Sherrill made a diving stop, full extension to her left, and threw out Smith to retire the side.

In the tenth the Abbey started with Brittany Southard on second. After a lineout, Elmore moved her to third on a groundout, but a strikeout ended the inning.

Mount Olive went down in order in the tenth, and the Crusaders threatened again in the top of the eleventh. McConnell was placed on second, and she advanced to third on a groundout by Sherrill. With the go-ahead run on third with one out, a strikeout and a foul out ended the inning.

The Trojans ended the marathon in the bottom of the frame. Kassie Lowe started on second and moved to third on a bunt single by Voorhees, who then stole second. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Kennedy singled to right at the two hour, 36 minute mark to give Mount Olive the win.

Lauren Smith earned the win to move to 11-5 as she held the Abbey hitless over the final four innings. She struck out five. Saunders allowed an unearned run on three hits in seven innings, walking one. Faust was the tough-luck loser, as she gave up two unearned runs on six hits in ten innings, striking out six, one shy of her career-high. She worked seven and one-thirds innings without allowing a run.

Sherrill, Elmore and Shannon Arthur each had one hit. Voorhees led all players with three hits.

In the second game, the Abbey struck first in the top of the first as Sherrill led off with a double to right center, was sacrificed to third by Elmore and scored on Arthur's single down the leftfield line.

Mount Olive bounced right back to score five in the bottom of the first to take a lead it would never surrender. Mount Olive scored on a double by Kennedy, a single by Smith, a bases loaded walk to Elizabeth Overman, an infield single by Lowe and another bases loaded walk, this one to Voorhees to move the lead to 5-2.

The Trojans tacked on two more in the bottom of the second on two-run homer by Christie Wright, and scored five times in the third, three coming on a bases loaded double by Wright to move the lead to 12-1, which was the final after five innings.

Smith picked up the win after allowing one run on five hits in three innings, fanning two. McConnell took the loss after yielding five runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. She struck out one.

Five different Crusaders had one hit. Arthur had the lone RBI. Smith led Mount Olive with three hits and four RBI.

Game One Box

Game Two Box