Softball Sweeps Lees-McRae

BANNER ELK, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team swept a doubleheader from Lees-McRae on Wednesday afternoon, topping the Bobcats 11-1 in five innings in the first game, and 7-3 in game two. Mars Hill improves to 17-13 overall.

Game 1: Mars Hill 11, Lees-McRae 1 (5 Innings)

Mars Hill used a five-run first inning while taking advantage of 10 Bobcat walks in an 11-1 triumph.

After Shaundee Woosley and Cori Dew opened the contest with walks, Robyn Stanek hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season for a 3-0 lead. Following a walk to Jamie Hockaday and a strikeout, Jamie Booze reached on a Lees-McRae error to put runners at first and second with one out. Brittany Gibson doubled to left, scoring Hockaday and Booze. Gibson advanced to third thanks to an error, but a pair of groundouts ended the inning.

An Aleshia Peek two-out single in the second brought home Dew, who had reached base on a fielder's choice. Lees McRae got on the board in the bottom half of the inning as Tori Wright led off with a base hit and scored on a double play.

Mars Hill added two runs in the fourth thanks to a Booze two-run homer. Stanek led off with a walk, followed by a lineout and strikeout before Booze's blast. The Lions plated three runs in the fifth on a Hockaday RBI single, a wild pitch and a Gibson RBI single.

Gibson went two-for-three with a single, double and three RBIs. Hockaday went two-for-three with two singles, two runs scored and an RBI. Stanek went one-for-three with a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs. Booze went one-for-three with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. Peek went one-for-three with a single, walk and an RBI. Woosley scored two runs while reaching on four walks.

Taylor Hussey earned her seventh win of the season, allowing one run on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Hollie Crickenberger takes the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on four hits with four walks and a strikeout.

Game 2: Mars Hill 7, Lees-McRae 3

Shaundee Woosley finished a triple short of the cycle as Mars Hill held off a late Lees-McRae rally to complete the sweep. The Lions set a new school record with 29 total bases in the contest.

A Cori Dew solo home run with one out in the first inning gave the Lions an early 1-0 lead. Mars Hill added a run in the second after Brittany Gibson led off the inning with a single and scored on a Woosley base hit.

After a popout to begin the fourth inning, Woosley hit her second home run of the year to give Mars Hill a 3-0 lead. Following a groundout, Robyn Stanek reached on a walk and advanced to third via a Jamie Hockaday single. Aleshia Peek hit her team-leading 12^th double to score Stanek and Hockaday. Peek advanced to third on a Jamie Booze single, but a groundout ended the inning.

Lees McRae scored their first run of the game in the fourth inning on a wild pitch after three straight singles loaded the bases. The Bobcats had the bases loaded with one out, but Booze got out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

Lauren Saller hit her first Mars Hill home run with one out in the fifth inning. Woosley followed with a double and advanced to third on a Cori Dew single. Woosley scored on a double steal with Dew reaching second for a 7-1 lead.

Lees-McRae scored two runs with two outs in the seventh. A Charlie Dutton pinch-hit single started the rally, with Sarah Stallings reaching on a base hit that advanced Dutton to third. After Stallings stole second, Valerie Hickey singled to right, scoring Lori Fulmer, who replaced Dutton on the bases. Sadie Lagle drove in Stallings with a single to left field, but became the final out of the game when she was retired at second on a fielder's choice.

Woosley went three-for-five with a single, double, home run, stolen base, two runs scored and two RBIs. Peek went two-for-four with two doubles and two RBIs. Saller wnet two-for-four with a single, home run, run scored and RBI. Dew went two-for-four with two singles, a run scored, stolen base and an RBI. Brittany Gibson went two-for-two with a single, double and run scored.

Mars Hill had 15 hits in the game, but left 12 runners on base.

Booze recorded her fifth win of the season, allowing one run on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in four innings. Shelby Culler earned her second save, allowing two runs on four this with a walk in three innings. Celeste Sheppard took the loss, allowing seven runs on 15 hits with four walks and three strikeouts while going the distance.

Mars Hill resumes South Atlantic Conference play on Thursday, hosting Brevard in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.