Mars Hill defeats Queens in SAC series opener

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (14-18, 3-12 SAC) downed Queens (8-22, 2-11 SAC) Friday evening on the road to open their South Atlantic Conference weekend series by a score of 8-5.

The Lions trailed 4-3 entering the fourth inning.  A four-run frame propelled the Lions to the win, beginning with Daniel Vitello's game-tying RBI single that allowed Adam Plouffe to score.  With the bases loaded, Paul Martin regained the Lions' lead with a two-run single up the middle that plated Gray McCurry and Cody Cline.  Vitello later scored off of a Brett Brubaker sacrifice fly to give Mars Hill the 7-4 lead.

Queens pulled within two off of a Nick Melton sacrifice fly that plated Noah Jones.  The Lions tacked on their eighth run of the contest in the top of the ninth off of a Queens' throwing error that allowed Scottie Lee to score.

Matt Honeycutt provided Mars Hill the 2-0 lead after the first inning of play with a two-run single up the middle to score Vitello and Martin.  Cline's RBI double in the top of the second plated McCurry, entering the third leading by a score of 3-0.

The Royals rallied in the bottom of the third stanza, taking their lone lead of the contest by scoring four runs.  CJ Hammonds opened the scoring with a solo home run to left field.  Queens later tied the game at three off of Melton's RBI double down the left field line.  Chase Hager's triple to right center scored Melton and gave the Royals the 4-3 advantage.

Jones led all players with four hits on the day and scored two of the Royals' runs.  Melton had a team-high two RBI.  Both Martin and Cline had two hits for Mars Hill while Martin added a team-high two RBI along with Honeycutt.

Troy Hall picked up the win, allowing five runs on nine hits in 7.2 innings pitched and striking out five.  Hunter Burnette earned the save, giving up one hit in 1.1 innings pitched.

The Lions will conclude the weekend series versus Queens on Saturday, March 30th.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.