Softball Takes Two From Queens

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team smacked 25 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Queens on Saturday at Ponder Field. The Lions erased a 5-0 deficit in game one for a 14-5 victory, while using timely hitting and strong pitching for a 7-1 game two victory.

Game 1: Mars Hill 14, Queens 5 (6 Innings)

After Queens plated five runs in the first inning, Mars Hill scored 14 unanswered runs en route to a 14-5 victory in six innings.

Queens began the contest with consecutive singles before Taylor Rosenbalm doubled down the left field line for a 2-0 Royals lead. Kaitlyn Cheek singled after a double play to put Queens up 3-0 before Ashley Rollins homered for a 5-0 lead.

Mars Hill answered with four runs in the first as three walks loaded the bases. Jamie Hockaday drove in Shaundee Woosley and Cori Dew with a double to left field, followed by an Aleshia Peek sacrifice fly. Hockaday would score on a Queens error to bring the Lions to within a run.

In the Mars Hill second inning, Woosley led off with a double and scored on a Cori Dew home run, giving Mars Hill a 6-5 lead and chasing Rollins from the game. Robyn Stanek welcomed Lyndey McCurry with a solo home run, giving Mars Hill a 7-5 advantage.

Queens began the third inning with a walk and appeared to have tied the game at 7-all on a deep fly ball off of Ashton Whitaker's bat, but Mars Hill center fielder Brittany Gibson reached over the fence to bring the ball back and keep Mars Hill ahead. Gibson would have a hand in all three outs in the inning, as she caught Amanda Meade's flyout and gunned down Rosenbalm at third base to end the inning.

A Hockaday sacrifice fly began a four-run fourth inning, with two runs scoring thanks to a Gibson double and a Shelby Culler base hit plating an additional run.

Following a groundout to begin the sixth inning, Woosley reached on a double and advanced to third on a Dew single. Stanek ended the contest by hitting her second home run of the game, this one to left field.

Stanek went three-for-four with a single, two home runs, four runs scored and four RBIs. Hockaday went two-for-three with a single, double, sacrifice fly, run scored and three RBIs. Gibson went two-for-three with a single, double, run scored and two RBIs. Woosley went two-for-four with a pair of doubles and four runs scored.  Dew went two-for-four with a single, home run, two RBIs and four runs scored. Booze went two-for-four with an RBI. Culler went one-for-four with a single and RBI. The top three batters in the Mars Hill lineup (Woosley, Dew, Stanek) scored 12 of the Lions' 14 runs.

Culler earned her second win of the year, allowing one hit with three walks and five strikeouts in 5.1 innings of relief. Rollins took the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on three hits with four walks in one-plus innings.

Game 2: Mars Hill 7, Queens 1

Jamie Booze scattered six hits in a complete game while Jamie Hockaday had four hits as the Lions completed their first SAC sweep of the season.

Queens threatened in the first inning, loading the bases with one out after a fielder's choice and two singles. Booze quelled the rally by striking out Amanda Meade and getting Kaitlyn Cheek to ground out.

Mars Hill pushed two runs across in the first inning thanks to a two-out rally. Robyn Stanek and Hockaday hit back-to-back singles and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Aleshia Peek brought home Stanek and Hockaday on a single to right field.

The Lions added a run in the third inning after Shaundee Woosley opening the frame with a triple down the right field line and scored on a Stanek sacrifice fly.

The Royals scored their only run of the game in the fifth inning. Taylor Rosenbalm reached on a one-out walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a groundout. Rosenbalm appeared to be retired on a pickoff attempt at third but would score on an Ashton Whitaker single to left field.

Hockaday led off the bottom half of the inning with a single and was temporarily lifted for pinch runner Megan Arrington. Arrington advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a Brittany Gibson single to put the Lion lead back at three runs.

A three-run sixth inning provided a bit of insurance for Booze and the Lions. Woosley reached on a one-out single and scored on a Stanek double, with Kyara Porche crossing the plate on a Hockaday's fourth single of the game. Peek kept the hit train rolling with an infield single that plated Stanek. Mars Hill had the bases loaded with one out, but a popout and fielder's choice ended the inning.

Hockaday went four-for-four with four singles, one run scored and an RBI. Peek went two-for-three with two singles and three RBIs. Stanek went two-for-three with a single, double, two runs scored and two RBIs. Woosley went two-for-three with a single, triple and two runs scored. Gibson went one-for-three with a single and an RBI.

Booze earned her seventh victory of the season, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Kaitlyn Bodine took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in three innings.

Mars Hill travels to Tusculum on Tuesday evening for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.