Mars Hill Splits With Limestone

GAFFNEY, S.C. - The Mars Hill softball team split a doubleheader at Limestone on Sunday, falling 5-4 in game one before picking up a 10-3 victory in game two.

Game 1: Limestone 5, Mars Hill 4

A two-run fifth inning single allowed Limestone to erase a 4-3 deficit en route to a 5-4 win.

Mars Hill got on the board in the first inning as Shaundee Woosley led off with a single and advanced to second on a Brittany Gibson single. Woosley and Gibson moved up following a wild pitch before Jamie Hockaday singled to score Woosley.

In the Limestone second, Alycia Stiles led off with a single and scored on an Erika Hansen double. Limestone took the lead on Gabby Nicholson's sacrifice fly that scored Leea Polin.

The Lions tied the game in the third on a Hockaday double, scoring Cori Dew. Limestone answered with a solo home run by Amanda Hayes in the bottom half of the frame. Mars Hill threatened in the fourth inning but the Saints got out of the inning unscathed thanks to a fielder's choice that retired Lauren Saller at the plate.

Taylor Hussey helped her own cause for Mars Hill in the fifth with a single to score Aleshia Peek, tying the game at 3. A Limestone error allowed Jamie Booze to score for a 4-3 Lion lead.

Limestone loaded the bases with two outs in fifth inning for Hansen, who drove in two runs with an infield single. Mars Hill was retired in order in their final two at-bats.

Peek went three-for-four with three singles and a run scored for Mars Hill. Hockaday went two-for-four with a single, double and two RBIs. Hussey went one-for-two with a single and an RBI. Woosley, Gibson, Booze and Erin Vickery each had hits for the Lions.

Kelly Shearer earned her seventh win of the season for Limestone, allowing four runs, two earned, on 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Hussey took the loss after she allowed five runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Allie Carrigan pitched a scoreless inning in relief, allowing one hit.

Game 2: Mars Hill 10, Limestone 3

Eight of Mars Hill's nine starters had a hit in a 12-hit performance as the Lions scored eight unanswered runs to earn a 10-3 victory.

Mars Hill scored two runs in the first inning on a two-base error by Paige Bolding that allowed Shaundee Woosley and Cori Dew to score. Limestone got one of the runs back in the home half of the frame as a Lion error allowed a run to score.

Limestone scored two runs in the third inning thanks to a Bailie Maybry RBI single and a Lion error that allowed a run to score.

Erin Vickery tied the game for the Lions with a leadoff home run to start the fourth inning. Mars Hill took the lead as Taylor Hussey scored on a fielder's choice, followed by a Jamie Hockaday sacrifice fly that plated Woosley for a 5-3 advantage.

Limestone loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning but a fielder's choice and flyout got Mars Hill out of the inning without any damage.

Mars Hill smacked three doubles as part of a five-run seventh inning. After a leadoff walk to Hockaday and an Aleshia Peek single, Jamie Booze doubled to score Hockaday and Peek. Following a strikeout and flyout, Lauren Saller doubled to score Booze, with Woosley driving in Saller with the third double of the frame. A Dew single brought Woosley home as Mars Hill reached double digits in the run column for the fifth time in 12 victories.

Woosley, Peek, Vickery and Brittany Gibson each had two hits for Mars Hill. Woosley, Peek, Booze, Saller and Hussey each doubled in the contest.

Booze earned her fourth win of the season, allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts in three innings. Tyler Miles allowed three hits with one walk and two strikeouts in three scoreless innings. Allie Carrigan issued a free pass in a scoreless seventh inning.

Klinnin Carson took the loss for Limestone after she allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Taylor Wigmore allowed six runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief.

Mars Hill begins South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday, traveling to Catawba for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.