Lincoln Memorial Sweeps Softball

MARS HILL, N.C.- The Mars Hill softball team was swept by Lincoln Memorial at Ponder Field on Wednesday, dropping a 3-0 decision in game one followed by a 5-4 extra-inning loss in game two. The Lions drop to 22-20 overall and 6-14 in the South Atlantic Conference.

Game 1: Lincoln Memorial 3, Mars Hill 0

Samantha Smith held the Lions to three hits as the Railsplitters scored runs in the first, third and fifth innings for the win.

Lincoln Memorial got a run in the first inning as Brianna Mulkey reached on a leadoff single and scored on a two-out error.

Mars Hill threatened in the first, loading the bases thanks to a Cori Dew single, a fielder's choice and a walk with one out. Smith got out of the inning unscathed thanks to a pair of fielder's choices.

Mulkey set up the Railsplitters' second run in the third inning, reaching on a bunt single, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a single. Peyton Bruce brought home Mulkey on a squeeze bunt before a strikeout ended the inning.

A Robyn Stanek double with two outs in the third inning brought the tying run to the plate, but a sharp lineout ended the frame. In the fourth, Jamie Booze reached on a two out walk and advanced to third via an Erin Vickery double, but a lineout ended the Mars Hill threat.

Jennifer Moose put the visitors up 3-0 with a solo home run with one out in the fifth inning.

Smith allowed three hits with two walks in seven shutout innings. Taylor Hussey allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits with two walks and a strikeout in seven innings.

Game 2: Lincoln Memorial 5, Mars Hill 4 (8 innings)

Amanda Snow's solo home run with two outs in the seventh forced extra innings before scoring the winning run on a Danae Reed single.

Kirstin Toole led off the second inning with a single, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Kristen McAndrew sacrifice fly to give the Railsplitters a 1-0 lead. Mars Hill tied the game at 1 with an Aleshia Peek leadoff home run in the home half of the inning.

Toole, Lincoln Memorial's starting pitcher, helped her own cause in the third with a two-run home run to left field.

In the Mars Hill sixth, Aleshia Peek reached on an error and advanced to second on a Brittany Gibson single. Jamie Booze brought home Peek with a base hit before being lifted for pinch runner Megan Arrington. After Arrington stole second, Erin Vickery tied the game with a single to left field that plated Gibson. After a pitching change, pinch runner Kyara Porche stole second before a Lauren Saller single that scored Arrington, giving Mars Hill a 4-3 lead. Snow got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Following a foulout and groundout to start the seventh, Snow broke a 0-for-13 slump with a solo home run to center field to tie the game.

With Toole placed on second due to the intentional tiebreaker rule to start the eighth, Laura Taricano advanced Toole to third with a bunt, followed by Reed's infield single to give the Railsplitters a 5-4 lead. A sacrifice bunt punt runners at second and third with two outs before a foulout ended the frame. The Lions went down in order to end the game.

Booze went two-for-four with two singles and an RBI. Stanek went two-for-four with a pair of singles. Saller went one-for-three with a single and RBI. Peek went one-for-four with two runs scored and an RBI. Vickery went one-for-four with a single and RBI. Gibson went one-for-four with a single and run scored.

Snow earned the win in relief, allowing a hit in 2.2 scoreless innings. Toole allowed four runs, two earned, on seven hits with a walk in 5.1 innings. Shelby Culler took the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with two strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

Mars Hill wraps up the 2014 season on Friday at Ponder Field with a doubleheader against Newberry beginning at 1 p.m. Seniors Megan Arrington, Allie Carrigan, Brittany Gibson, Jamie Hockaday, Lauren Saller and Shaundee Woosley will be honored prior to the game.