Softball Swept by Young Harris

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. - Playing their first games in three weeks due to weather, the Mars Hill softball team was swept by Young Harris, dropping the opener 7-5 and the second game 5-4. The Lions drop to 1-7 while Young Harris improves to 11-5.

Game One: Young Harris 7, Mars Hill 5

Young Harris plated four runs in the first inning and held off a Mars Hill rally in the seventh inning to secure the victory.

Sydnee Weaver worked a leadoff walk in the first and scored on a Jeanie Perrucci base hit to put Young Harris on the board. Perrucci and Sarah Magill scored on a Chandler Stooksbury single, with Georgia Webb scoring via a Sarah Beth Marquis base hit.

Mars Hill got three of the runs back in the second. Erin Vickery was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and scored on a Jamie Booze base hit. Aleshia Peek hit a two-run home run to bring the Lions to within a run.

A groundout in the third inning gave Young Harris their fifth run, with singles from Magill and Stooksbury each plating a run in the sixth inning. In the Mars Hill seventh, Vickery singled up the middle to score Melissa Garcia with one out. Taylor Lail's infield single loaded the bases, followed by a fielder's choice that brought the Lions to within a run. Peek represented the go-ahead run with two outs, but she flew out to end the game.

Peek went one-for-two with a home run, run scored and two RBI to lead Mars Hill. Booze finished one-for-three with a single, run scored and two RBI. Vickery went one-for-three with a single and RBI.

Darby Stanford earned the win, allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Shelby Culler took the loss as she allowed seven runs on 14 hits with six walks and a strikeout.

Game Two: Young Harris 5, Mars Hill 4

Stacia Williams was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, giving Young Harris a 5-4 victory for the doubleheader sweep.

Sarah Magill's three-run home run and a Sarah Beth Marquis single gave the hosts a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Following a leadoff walk and a base hit in the Mars Hill fourth, Ellen Tillman hit a two-run double that cut the Young Harris lead in half.

Erin Vickery led off the sixth inning with a home run, with a Shelby Culler two-out double in the seventh inning tying the contest at 4.

A pair of singles followed by a hit batter loaded the bases for Young Harris in the seventh with no outs. On the first pitch of her at-bat, Williams was hit to push across the game-winning run.

Patricia Thompson went three-for-three with three singles and a run scored to lead Mars Hill at the plate. Vickery went one-for-three with a home run and an RBI while Culler and Tillman each went one-for-three with a double.

Jeanie Perrucci was the winning pitcher after allowing four runs on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Chelsea Broughman took the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, on 11 hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.

Mars Hill will play Chowan at North Davidson High School in Lexington, N.C. on Monday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.