Lions Earn Opening Day Sweep

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team opened the 2014 campaign with a sweep of Virginia Intermont, earning 5-2 and 3-1 victories to start the season.

Game 1: Mars Hill 5, Virginia Intermont 2

The first three innings were scoreless, but both teams had opportunities. Katie Smith reached on a two out double in the first inning, but Mars Hill starter Taylor Hussey induced a groundout to end the inning. Mars Hill threatened in the second with a leadoff single by Jamie Hockaday. Hockaday advanced to second on a Fielder's Choice and third on a Cori Dew sacrifice bunt. Aleshia Peek reached on a walk before Shaundee Woosley struck out, stranding Hocaday and Peek.

The Lions got on the board in the fourth on a leadoff, first pitch home run by Erin Vickery to center field. After a Dew walk and a Peek lineout, Woosley singled to left and both runners advanced a base thanks to a Taylor Burkhalter sacrifice bunt. Brittany Gibson smacked a double to center field, plating Dew and Woosley for a 3-0 Lion lead.

Virginia Intermont got two of the runs back in the fifth as Chelsea Forney reached on a two out single, with Michalah Sacre bringing her home on a two-run home run. Mars Hill answered with a Robyn Stanek home run to lead off the fifth and added an extra bit of insurance in the sixth on a Jamie Booze sacrifice fly that plated Peek.

Woosley went two-for-three with a run scored to lead the lions. Gibson went one-for-three with two RBIs.

Hussey earned her first win of the season, allowing two runs on four hits with a strikeout in six inning. Tyler Miles sent the Cobras down in order in the seventh to earn her first collegiate save. Sacre was charged with the loss as she allowed four runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts in five innings of work.

Game 2: Mars Hill 3, Virginia Intermont 1

Mars Hill took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Kyara Porche reached on an error by Virginia Intermont starter Lauren Smith, advanced to second on a Robyn Stanek groundout and stole third with two outs. A Jamie Hockaday single brought home Porche for the game's first run.

Virginia Intermont had runners at second and third in the third inning with two outs, but Mars Hill starter Jamie Booze struck out Tamera Campbell to end the inning. In the fourth inning, Booze retired the first two Cobra batters before issuing a walk followed by consecutive singles. Booze worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam by inducing a groundout to first. Booze helped her own cause in the bottom half of the inning, leading off with a single and scoring on a Aleshia Peek double.

Mars Hill added a run in the fifth inning as Robyn Stanek reached on a one-out double and scored on a Hockaday double. Michalah Sacre hit her second home run of the afternoon to lead off the Cobra seventh inning, but Miles retired the next three batters to secure the win.

Hockaday went two-for-three with a double and two RBIs, while Peek went one-for-two with an RBI.

Booze scattered five hits with one walk and three strikeouts in four scoreless innings to earn the win. Miles allowed one run on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts in three innings of work. Smith is charged with the loss after she allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits with one walk and one strikeout in 4 1/3 innings.

The Lions have a short turnaround, facing Mount Olive in a home doubleheader tomorrow at Noon.