Offense Fuels Sweep of UVa-Wise

WISE, Va.- The Mars Hill softball team swept UVa-Wise on Thursday, claiming a 7-4 victory in the first game and a 7-2 win in game two in their final non-conference games of the seson. Mars Hill improves to 22-16 on the season.

Game 1: Mars Hill 7, Uva-Wise 4

Shelby Culler's three-run home run in the fifth inning proved to be the difference as Mars Hill recorded a 7-4 victory in game one.

Aleshia Peek reached on a one out single in the second and advanced to third on a Brittany Gibson double. Jamie Booze brought in Peek with a single to right for a 1-0 Lion lead.

The Cavaliers answered in the home half of the inning as Mindy Combs led off with a single and scored on an Allyssa Zebrowski two-run home run.

Mars Hill retook the lead as Robyn Stanek reached on a two out error and scored on a Jamie Hockaday two-run home run.

 Hockaday led off the fifth inning but was retired on a fielder's choice that allowed Peek to reach. Peek advanced to second on a walk followed by a flyout. Culler delivered the big blow with a three- run home run to right field for a 6-2 lead.

Uva-Wise answered with two runs thanks to a Mindy Combs double with two outs. Mars Hill got one of the runs back in the sixth as Hockaday reached on a one-out walk and scored on a Gibson two-out double.

Peek went three-for-four with three singles and two runs scored. Hockaday went two-for-three with a single, home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. Gibson went two-for-three with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI.  Culler went one-for-two with a home run, run scored and three RBIs. Booze went one-for-three with a single and RBI.

Culler earned her third win of the season, allowing four runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Tyler Miles earned her second save, allowing one hit with two strikeouts in two innings.

Rachel Hawks took the loss for UVa-Wise, along three runs, one earned, on five hits with two strikeouts in three innings.

Game 2: Mars Hill 7, UVa-Wise 2

Allie Carrigan and Brittany Gibson each homered as Jamie Booze allowed three hits in a 7-2 victory to complete the sweep.

After three scoreless innings, the Lions loaded the bases in the fourth with three straight singles from Cori Dew, Robyn Stanek and Jamie Hockaday to start the inning. Following a strikeout, Brittany Gibson doubled to center, scoring Dew and Stanek for a 2-0 lead. Carrigan made her first hit of the season one to remember, sending a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run and a 5-0 Lion lead

Hockaday reached on an error to begin the sixth and advanced to second on a groundout. Gibson hit her second home run of the season to left field for a 7-0 Mars Hill lead.

Mindy Combs led off the seventh inning with a single, just the second of the game off of Booze. After a groundout advanced Combs to second, Sarah Beemer homered to right field to put the Cavaliers on the board. Booze got a flyout and a groundout to end the game.

Gibson went two-for-three with a single, home run, two runs scored and four RBIs. Carrigan went one-for-three with a home run and three RBIs. Shaundee Woosley went two-for-four with two singles. Hockaday went one-for-three with a single and two runs scored. Stanek went one-for-three with a single and run scored.  Dew went one-for-four with a single and run scored.

Booze went the distance, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Taylor Brandts lost her second game of the year, allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits with six strikeouts in seven innings.

Mars Hill travels to rival Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.