Lions Shut Out Spirits

LEXINGTON, N.C. - Jamie Booze scattered five hits over five innings and drove in a run as the Mars Hill softball team shutout Salem College 3-0 at North Davidson High School on Monday evening. Mars Hill improves to 2-7 while Salem drops to 3-4-2.

After two quick outs to start the game, a pair of singles and a Mars Hill error loaded the bases, but Booze struck out Amber Bass to get out of the inning unscathed. The Lions stranded a runner in scoring position in the third inning before pushing across a pair of runs in the fourth. Booze hit a sacrifice fly to plate Robyn Stanek, followed by Aleshia Peek being hit by a pitch. Ellen Tillman singled to score Taylor Lail before a strikeout ended the inning.

Salem threatened in the fifth as the Spirits had runners on first and second with two outs before a lineout ended the inning.

Mars Hill added an insurance run as Stanek reached on a leadoff walk and scored on a Spirits error to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.

Lail went two-for-three with two singles and a run scored. Stanek went one-for-two with two runs scored 

Booze earned the win in her first start of 2015, allowing five hits with two strikeouts in five innings. Shelby Culler threw two perfect innings for the save.

Breanna Morris took the loss as she allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Lauryn Smith allowed an unearned run with two walks and three strikeouts in 2.1 innings.

Mars Hill welcomes mountain rival Lees-McRae to Ponder Field for a doubleheader on Thursday at 1 p.m.