PEMBROKE – Sophomore Brea Hartley went 3-for-3 as six other Lady Braves collected at least one hit as the UNCP softball team finished the match with a total of 10 hits as the squad clinched a 4-2 victory on Thursday against the visiting Mount Olive Trojans in game one at LRA Field.

The Lady Braves (10-12) scored in four different innings to end the five-game winning streak of the Trojans (9-4) despite two scores added for Mount Olive in the sixth inning. Hartley registered a triple and two singles, while senior Kellie Van Dyke was 2-for-3 with a double and single, as both Hartley and Van Dyke posted one run and one RBI each.

Senior Starr Gilley (4-5) went all seven innings for the win as she allowed two unearned runs on only three hits and struck out eight batters for the third time this season. Mount Olive had three different batters claim one hit apiece, while Jennifer Jones also added one run and an RBI. Carly White (1-2) struck out three and gave up all four earned runs on 10 hits in her six innings in the middle for Mount Olive.

Senior Holly Berry was the first Lady Brave to put up a hit as she doubled to left center and was scored on Hartley's single to left field in the first inning to give UNCP a one run advantage. Sophomore Megan Hillard reaching first base on a hit-by-pitch and rounded home plate on Van Dyke's double along the left field line in the second inning before UNCP went up three runs as Van Dyke crossed home on junior Taylor Cloninger's single to left center.

UNCP stretched its lead to four runs in the fifth inning as Hartley tagged first on a single up the middle and rounded the bases on singles by Karlee Wilson and Hillard before scoring on freshman Caitlin Steel's sacrifice fly to center field.

Mount Olive attempted a comeback in the sixth inning as Beth Overman singled up the middle and scored on Jones' single to right field. Jones added the final run as she crossed home plate on a pass ball, but the effort was not enough to catch the Black and Gold by the end of the seventh inning.

To watch the full game click HERE.