MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Flagler College unleashed an offensive onslaught with 25 runs on 25 hits in a doubleheader sweep of the University of Mount Olive Tuesday afternoon at the Nancy Chapman Field. Flagler won both games via the mercy rule, 14-3 in game one and 12-4 in game two.
After the Trojans had answered the Saints two-run first with a three-run outburst of their own, Flagler left little doubt by sending 11 players to the plate in the second inning where it scored five runs on five hits.
The Saints got the first two batters of the inning on base and
Megan Miller singled through the left side of the infield, but the left fielder misplayed the ball.
Maria Kappos, who led off the inning with single, scored on the play and
Jaclyn Mijuskovic and Miller each advanced a base on the error.
Garland Evans followed with a single through the right side to give the Saints a 4-3 lead.
Genevieve Mangini hit an infield single that scored another run and walk loaded the bases which ended the day for starter Kyle Ward (0-2).
Summer Dickerson entered the circle for Mount Olive. She was greeted rudely by
Natalie Murphy whose single scored Evans. Two batters later, Hayley Kirinsky drew a bases loaded walk.
The Saints were not done. They poured on another five runs in the third. Kappos cleared the bases with a double to left-center to extend the lead to 12-3, and that ended the day for Dickerson.
A two-run pinch-hit single by
Cassie Patterson in the top of the fifth capped the scoring for the Saints.
Ally Marcano (9-8) scattered five hits and allowed three runs over five innings of work.
Seven of the nine Flagler players in the starting lineup got a hit.
Natalie Murphy paced the 14-hit attack with a pair of singles, two runs batted in and she scored a run.
Morgan Murphy also singled twice, scored a run and knocked in two more. Kappos went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and she scored a run. Miller singled twice, scored two runs and drove in another.
Ward tossed one-plus innings, allowed five hits and four earned runs in the loss.
Kayla Allen went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Flagler jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in game two, and then reeled off eight runs in the third to put the game away.
The Saints strung together three consecutive singles around three walks to chase Trojan starter Taylor Waddell (1-1). Later,
Natalie Murphy hit a two-run single to give Flagler a 10-0 lead. Her sister, Morgan, had two hits in the inning, scored a run and drove in another.
Rachel Hudson hit an RBI single in the fourth inning to give the Saints a 12-0 lead.
The Trojans scored once in the fourth and added three more in the fifth. Emily Statzer struck out looking to end the game with the bases loaded and the eight-run rule was enforced.
Katlyn McCue (12-8) went the distance and surrendered only four hits and two earned runs. She walked four and struck out five batters to record the win.
Morgan Murphy's two hits in the third inning were what she finished with, as well as the run scored and run batted in. Kappos went 2-for-2 with a double, a run scored and one RBI.
Tatum Morgan and
Natalie Murphy each drove in two runs. Evans scored two runs without the benefit of a hit as she drew three walks and even managed to drive in a run.
Waddell worked 2 1/3 innings for Mount Olive. She allowed five hits and nine runs. Waddell walked six batters.
Eileen Barrera collected two singles and drove in two runs.
Flagler hosts Peach Belt Conference-rival Columbus State University on Saturday (March 31) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Flagler Field.
