Lions drop first two of series versus Pioneers

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (4-7, 4-6 SAC) was defeated in both games Saturday versus Tusculum (9-1, 6-0 SAC) Saturday afternoon by scores of 16-4 and 16-8.

GAME ONE: TU 16, MHU 4

The Pioneers used a nine-run third inning to propel them to victory.  

Luiz Ezra's three-run double to right center field was the highlight of the inning for Tusculum, escalating the lead up to 13-1.

In the bottom half of the inning, Ruben Trillo blasted a solo home run for the Lions.  Mars Hill plated two runs in the bottom the fourth to pull within nine, however, in the top of the sixth, the Pioneers added three more runs to close out the game, 16-4.

In the top of the second, trailing 1-0, Tusculum's Fuzzy Furr hit a two-run home run to put the Pioneers up.

Furr led all players with four RBI followed by Ezra's three.  Gunner Becker picked up the complete game win, striking out three and allowing four hits on the day.

GAME TWO: TU 16, MHU 8

Fuzzy Furr hit two home runs and drove in five in the Pioneers' game two win.

Furr opened the scoring in the top of the second inning with a two-run shot to left field.  He struck again in the top of the third with a three-run bomb to extend their lead to 7-1.

Austin Purser doubled down the left field line in the bottom of the third, plating Ruben Trillo and Scottie Lee to cut the Pioneer lead down to 7-3.

Purser later drove home another two runs off of two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, trailing 11-5.

Tusculum's large lead held as they closed out day one of the series with a 16-8 victory.

Furr led all players with four RBI while Purser led the Lions with four RBI of his own.  Nick Flesher picked up the win, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits while striking out four.  

The Lions close out the weekend series versus Tusculum on Sunday, March 7.  First pitch is set for 12 p.m.