Lions drop first two versus No. 11 Catawba

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (12-15, 9-13 SAC) dropped both games versus No. 11 Catawba (17-6, 13-5 SAC) Friday afternoon by scores of 12-1 and 12-6, respectively.

GAME ONE: CAT 12, MHU 1 (5 Innings)

The Indians used a seven-run second inning to claim a 12-1 win over the Lions in game one of Friday's doubleheader.

Lee Poteat's three-run double to left field was the highlight of the inning for Catawba as they saw their lead sit at 7-0.  Zack Miller drove in Poteat later in the inning to cap off the scoring.

Austin Treadway broke the shutout bid in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI double down the right field line, plating Tyler Lala for the Lions' lone run.

Catawba plated four more runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by Cameron Mills two-run single up the middle.

Miller went 3-for-3 from the plate, driving in two while Poteat led all players with three RBI.  Luke Spiva also drove in two runs.

Maddux Holshouser picked up his second win of the season, striking out eight in four innings of work.

GAME TWO: CAT 12, MHU 6

Catawba scored nine unanswered runs to come from behind and secure the Friday sweep.

Trailing 6-3 in the top of the sixth, Catawba struck twice to cut the lead down to one.  Joe Butts' RBI single tied the game at six in the top of the seventh.  Bryce Butler's RBI single gave the Indians the 7-6 lead.  Cameron Morrison began adding insurance runs with a two-run single through the right side of the infield, ending the frame up 9-6.

Butts collected his second RBI of the game in the top of the eighth with a single that scored Lee Poteat.  Poteat drove in Jeremy Simpson in the top of the ninth with a RBI double.

Tyler Lala provided the Lions' their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run home run that over the left field fence, plating Jordan Lathe and Kyle Jenkins.  Zach Weaver doubled the Lions' lead with a RBI double to right center that scored Hunter Holland.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Weaver was plunked by a pitch, allowing Lathe to score his second run of the game, putting the Lions up 6-3.

Morrison and Lala led their respective teams with three RBI apiece.  Hunter Shepherd led all players with three hits while Lathe led the Lions with two.

Caleb Link earned the win for the Indians, striking out five in three innings of work and allowing one hit.  Connor Presnell suffered the loss, allowing three runs on two hits in 0.2 innings of work.

Mars Hill concludes their final home series of the 2021 season on Saturday, March 3.  First pitch is set for 12 p.m.