Mars Hill falls to Wingate in series opener
The Mars Hill baseball team (12-16, 2-10 SAC) was defeated by Wingate (20-9, 7-3) Friday afternoon at Henderson Field by a score of 14-5 in South Atlantic Conference play.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (12-16, 2-10 SAC) was defeated by Wingate (20-9, 7-3) Friday afternoon at Henderson Field by a score of 14-5 in South Atlantic Conference play.
Trailing 2-1 entering the sixth inning, Wingate retook the lead with a three-run home run from Andrew Llewellyn. The Bulldogs added four more runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by two home runs. Reece Daniel hit a solo home run while Jed Bryant hit a two-run shot over the left field wall.
The Bulldogs added two more home runs, six more runs in the top of the eighth. Tanner Forry hit a solo home run to lead off the inning and later, with the bases loaded, Zach Little's double to left center field cleared the bases to put Wingate up 12-2. McCann Mellett's two-run home run later in the frame scored the final two Bulldogs' runs on the day.
Mars Hill scored three in the bottom half of the inning for their first runs since the third. With the bases loaded, Scottie Lee ripped a single through the left side of the infield to score Cody Cline and Daniel Vitello while Brett Brubaker advanced to third. Austin Purser's RBI single later plated Brubaker for the Lions' fifth run of the game.
Mellett gave the Bulldogs the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first off of a RBI double that scored Justin Guy. The Lions added one run apiece in the second and third, both off of solo home runs. Gray McCurry's solo shot in the second knotted the game at one and Cline's opposite field blast in the third provided the Lions their only lead of the game.
Mellett led all players with four hits on the day, driving in four and scoring three runs. Both Little and Llewellyn added three RBI apiece. Brubaker led the Lions, going 3-for-3 on the afternoon with two RBI.
Austin Turgeon picked up the win allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out six in 7.2 innings pitched. Cameron Howell suffered the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
The Lions host Wingate in doubleheader action on Saturday, March 23rd to wrap up the three-game series. First pitch at Henderson Field is scheduled for 12 p.m.