Holland drives in four, Lions fall to King
The Mars Hill baseball team (5-13) was felled by King (13-6) in extra innings Wednesday afternoon, falling by a score of 12-9 in 10 innings.
MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill baseball team (5-13) was felled by King (13-6) in extra innings Wednesday afternoon, falling by a score of 12-9 in 10 innings.
King rallied in the top of the ninth, down 7-6, scoring three to take the 9-7 lead into the bottom of the frame. After tying the game up at seven off of a Mars Hill error, Hunter Barbour's two-run single put the Tornado up by two. Mars Hill tied the game up with a two-run single off the bat of Hunter Holland, plating Jacob Legleiter and Cody Cline.
The Tornado scored three runs in the top of the 10th, led by Rob Sari's two-run single that plated Bennett McCann and Junior Renwick for the game-winning scores.
The Lions recorded two runs apiece in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to open the scoring. Following Cline's double with one out, Holland's RBI single up the middle put the Lions up 1-0. Later in the frame, off of a passed ball, Holland put the Lions up by two, crossing home.
In the fifth inning, Holland drove in his second run of the game. Leading 3-0 off of a RBI double from Cline, Holland followed up in the next at-bat with a RBI double of his own.
King recorded their first runs of the game off of a two-run home run from Bennett McCann. The Lions responded in the bottom of the sixth as Austin Treadway hit his second home run of the season, a leadoff shot to left center field to rebuild the three-run lead. Later in the frame, Casey Mawhinney blasted a two-run home run to put Mars Hill up 7-2 after six.
The Tornado plated four runs in the top of the eighth, cutting the deficit down to one. The offensive run was highlighted by Renwick's two-run home run. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, the Lions put Carlton Jackson on the mound. Jackson was able to get Harrison Barger to fly out and followed it up by striking out McCann to end the threat.
Renwick and McCann led the Tornado with four hits apiece and two RBI. Both Cline and Holland recorded four hits while Holland led all players with four RBI.
Nathan Jaye picked up the win, allowing two runs on three hits in two innings pitched. Ryan Steffens was credited with the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
Mars Hill returns to South Atlantic Conference play on Friday, March 6 when they host the Royals of Queens. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.