Baseball Defeats Tusculum

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Lions baseball team defeated Tusculum 9-7 in South Atlantic Conference action Sunday afternoon at Henderson Field. Mars Hill improved to 9-10 overall and 1-2 in the league. The Pioneers fell to 9-8 on the season and an even 3-3 in the SAC.

Matt Honeycutt led the Lions offensively going 3-3 with a double and two RBI. Christian Stampler was 1-4 with a double and a pair of RBI while Brett Brubaker was 1-3 with a homerun. Tom Mastrodonato picked up the win (2-0) pitching 3.2 innings in relief. Jared Matthewson obtained his second save of the year as he accounted for the final out of the game. Caleb Edwards started the game and threw five innings scattering six hits and allowing just two runs.

Colby Skeen led the Lions at the plate going 2-5 with a homerun and three RBI. Jeremy Glore went 3-5 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. McKenly Berry suffered the loss throwing 1.2 innings in relief.

Brubaker hit a solo homerun in the Lions' first at-bat to give Mars Hill a 1-0 lead. Nick Lacina crossed the plate on fielder's choice to tie the game at 1-all in the fourth inning. The Pioneers then took a 2-1 lead in their fifth at-bat when Glore singled to drive in Zach Finchum.

Honeycutt doubled to left-center field in the sixth frame to score Daniel Vitello and Hunter Merrill to give the Lions a 3-2 advantage. Glore scored on a fielder's choice in the eighth inning to knot the contest at 3-3.

The Lions then exploded for six runs on two hits and the same number of Pioneer errors to enjoy a 9-3 lead. The at-bat was highlighted by a two-RBI double from Stampler and a RBI single by Lance Edwards.

The Pioneers would not die. They scored four runs in their last at-bat to make the final tally 9-7 in favor of the hosts. Skeen belted a three-run homerun in the at-bat before Mathewson came in and pitched the final out of the contest, a fly ball hit to right field.

Mars Hill will host King on Tuesday, March 7. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.