Offense Has Big Day in Sweep of Montreat

MONTREAT, N.C.- The Mars Hill baseball team combined for 19 runs on 19 hits as the Lions swept Montreat 11-0 and 8-2 at Newell Park on Thursday. Mars Hill improves to 13-16 on the season.

Game 1: Mars Hill 11, Montreat 0

A six run fourth inning gave the Lions a 7-0 lead as a trio of Lion pitchers held Montreat to two hits.

After one combined baserunner in the first two innings, the Lions loaded the bases with one out in the third inning thanks to a pair of walks and a base hit. Ray Carolina worked a walk to plate Lance Edwards but a pair of strikeouts ended the inning.

Mars Hill busted the game open with six runs in the fourth. After a pair of walks and two wild pitches to put runners on the corners, Tommy Scala laid down a bunt single to score Phillip Carroll. After an error reloaded the bases, Caleb Harbin pushed a bunt down the first base line to score David King. Evan Rogers smacked a two-run single to left, followed by a Carolina single and a Dylan Powers sacrifice fly.

The Lions added four runs in the fifth thanks to singles by Scala and Harbin and a Carolina two-run double.

Wes Aulet led off the Montreat fifth with a double off of the fence in left center, but a flyout followed by a pair of strikeouts ended the threat.

Carolina and Edwards each went two-for-three, with Scala going two-for-four and Harbin with a perfect two-for-two.

Hunter Boydston earned the win, allowing two hits with one walk and three strikeouts in five innings. Will Feimster took the loss, allowing three runs on one hit with five walks and seven strikeouts in three innings.

Game 2: Mars Hill 8, Montreat 2

A four run fifth inning erased a 2-1 deficit as the Lions completed the sweep with an 8-2 win.

Mars Hill got on the board in the third via a balk. Montreat took the lead in the home half of the inning, scoring a run on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice.

The Lions retook the lead in the fifth as Evan Rogers led off with a single and scored on a Dylan Powers base hit. Powers scored on a Dalton Eisenbath sacrifice fly, followed by a groundout and a Tommy Scala two-run home run off of the left field foul poul for a 5-2 Lion lead.

Dylan Powers hit a three run home run with two outs in the sixth inning to give the Lions an 8-2 lead.

Montreat had a runner at third with two outs in the sixth and the bases loaded in the seventh, but Mars Hill was able to get out each inning unscathed.

Powers went two-for-four with a single, home run and four RBI. Scala went two-for-four with a single, home run and two RBI. Rogers went one-for-three with three runs scored.

Alec Bivins earned the win, allowing two runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Erik Fann took the loss as he surrendered four runs on four hits in two innings.

Mars Hill returns to action on Wednesday, hosting Brevard in a non-conference contest at 3 p.m.