Cline, Lions take down Saints
The Mars Hill baseball team (6-8) defeated Limestone (3-11) by a score of 13-4 on the road in non-conference action Tuesday night.
GAFFNEY, S.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (6-8) defeated Limestone (3-11) by a score of 13-4 on the road in non-conference action Tuesday night.
The Lions opened the contest by going up 3-0 in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded, Paul Martin was walked, bringing Daniel Vitello home for the first run of the game. Brett Brubaker scored after Austin Purser was hit by a pitch and Jordan Lathe's sacrifice fly plated Scottie Lee for the third run of the inning.
Mars Hill added five more runs in the third, beginning with a Martin RBI double down the left field line that scored Lee. Purser followed with a RBI single through the left side to run the Lions' lead five. After going up six off of a wild pitch, Devin Mangum's two-run home run put Mars Hill up by eight.
Leading 9-0 entering the sixth inning, Cody Cline hit a two-run home run to give Mars Hill the 11-0 lead.
The Saints broke the shutout bid when double from Chase Allen scored Ryan Creps in the bottom of the sixth. Allen scored later in the inning off of an infield fly.
Cline struck again in the top of the seventh with a two-RBI single down the right field line that scored Purser and Adam Plouffe. John Staab, in the bottom of the eighth, singled to center field to plate Allen, pulling Limestone within 10 heading into the ninth. Creps doubled into left center, scoring Justin Mack for their fourth run of the contest.
Cline led all players with four RBI, going 2-of-5 on the night. Martin, Purser and Mangum each had two RBI.
Max Poole earned his first win of the year, going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five. Thomas Walden was credited with the loss, allowing six runs on four hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
The Lions open up home conference action on Friday, March 1st when they host Carson-Newman. First pitch at Henderson Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.