Mars Hill routs King in non-conference play, 25-6
The Mars Hill baseball team (13-18) downed King (10-16) by a score of 25-6 in non-conference play Tuesday evening at Henderson Field.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (13-18) downed King (10-16) by a score of 25-6 in non-conference play Tuesday evening at Henderson Field.
Trailing 6-5 heading into the sixth inning, the Lions reeled off 20 unanswered runs in the following three innings, including five in the sixth.
Cody Cline's RBI single up the middle that plated Adam Plouffe tied the game at six and began the Mars Hill scoring parade. Following Paul Martin's RBI single to take the 7-6 lead, Brett Brubaker's two-run single cleared the bases to plate the Lions' ninth run of the game. Matt Honeycutt drove Brubaker home with a double down the right field line to put the Lions in double-digits.
Mars Hill extended their lead to 12 by scoring eight runs in the seventh, highlighted by Honeycutt's three-run blast over the center field fence and Austin Purser's third home run in the past two games, a two-run shot to left field.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Lions' offense continued to roll, plating seven more runs. With the bases loaded for a majority of the frame, three Lions' runs were scored off of drawn walks.
Scottie Lee gave Mars Hill the early 3-0 lead with one swing of the bat. His three-run home run to left field scored Daniel Vitello and Honeycutt. Vitello scored the Lions' fourth run of the game in the second, scoring off of a past ball.
The Tornado stormed back in the top of the fourth to take their first lead of the game, scoring five runs. Trailing 4-3, Austin Meyer's two-run single scored Harrison Barger and Rob Sari to go up by one entering the bottom of the fourth. Mars Hill tied the game later in the inning with a RBI double off of the bat of Martin.
King once again took the lead in the top of the fifth as Barger drove home Hunter Barbour with a RBI double to left center field.
Barger led the Tornado with two RBI on the day. Barbour led King with three hits. Honeycutt led Mars Hill with four RBI, going 2-for-4 and scoring two runs. Lee and Purser added three RBI.
Cameron Howell earned the win, allowing one hit in one inning pitched. Jared Bridges was credited with the loss, giving up five runs on four hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
Mars Hill returns to South Atlantic Conference play on Friday, March 29th when they take on Queens on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.