Bears Beat Lions in Series Opener

HICKORY, N.C. - A six-run second inning was too much for the Mars Hill baseball team to overcome as they lost to Lenoir-Rhyne 13-3 on Friday evening at Bears Field. Mars Hill drops to 16-24 overall and 9-13 in the South Atlantic Conference.

After a scoreless first inning, Mars Hill got on the board in the second as Tommy Scala led off with a single, stole second and scored on an Alex Zachary triple.

Lenoir-Rhyne answered with six runs in the bottom half of the frame. David Newcomer led off with a single and advanced to second on a Mike Gasque base hit. Matthew De La Rosa drove in a pair of runs on a single to left center, with two more runs crossing on a Brantley Rumford double. A wild pitch and an Ivan Vieitez double brought home the final two runs of the inning.

The teams exchanged a run in the third inning, as Evan Rogers tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a Jacob Rand single. Casque led off the bottom of the frame with a double and advanced to third on a single before scoring on a double play.

Avery Womble struck out to begin the fourth inning but was safe at first thanks to a wild pitch. Womble then stole second before another wild pitch allowed him to advance to third. Dustin Jones drove in Womble with a single to cut the lead to 7-3. The Bears scored three runs in the seventh and eighth innings to complete the scoring.

Rand went two-for-four with two singles and an RBI. Rogers went one-for-three with a triple and run scored. Zachary went one-for-three with a triple and an RBI. Jones went one-for-three with a single and an RBI. Scala went one-for-four with a double and run scored.

Jeremy Coburn earned his fourth win of the season, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in seven innings. Hunter Boydston was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs on 11 hits in three innings.

The Lions and Bears wrap up the three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.