Softball Sweeps Lees-McRae

MARS HILL, N.C.- The Mars Hill softball team pounded out 23 hits and scored 17 runs as the Lions swept Lees-McRae 9-1 and 8-0 on Wednesday at Ponder Field. Mars Hill improves to 4-11 while Lees-McRae drops to 3-21.

Game One: Mars Hill 9, Lees-McRae 1

Shelby Culler had three hits and drove in two while earning the win as the pitcher of record for Mars Hill.

In the Mars Hill first, Jamie Booze led off with a walk and scored on a Lees-McRae error. Following a walk to load the bases, Culler singled to score Taylor Caviness for a 2-0 Lion lead.

Mars Hill added three runs in the second thanks to a Caviness bunt single that scored Patricia Thompson, an Ellen Tillman sacrifice fly and a Culler single as the Lions led 5-0 after two innings.

Lees-McRae got on the board in the third inning as Sara Weatherholtz worked a leadoff walk and scored on a Valerie Hickey base hit.

Aleshia Peek scored the first of three runs for the Lions in the fifth, crossing the plate on a Melissa Garcia single. Thompson singled to bring home Garcia before scoring on a wild pitch.

The Bobcats threatened in the sixth as a leadoff single and fielder's choice put runners at first and second with one out. Following a strikeout, Weatherholtz singled to right but Garcia threw out Amanda Decker at home to end the inning. Culler provided the ending to the contest as she doubled home Erin Vickery for the game-ending run in the sixth.

Mars Hill was led by at the plate by Culler as she went three-for-four with two singles and a double with two RBI. Thompson went two-for-three with two singles and two runs scored. Vickery went one-for-three with a double and two runs scored. Booze scored two runs while reaching safely on two walks. The Lions finished with a season-high 12 hits.

Culler earned the win, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in six innings. Charlie Dutton took the loss as she allowed five runs, three earned, on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 1.1. innings.

Game Two: Mars Hill 8, Lees-McRae 0

Mars Hill scored seven runs in the first two innings to take control of the game.

Valerie Hickey led off the game with a base hit and reached second on a Lion error. After a sacrifice bunt advanced Hickey to third, she was retired on a fielder's choice before a flyout ended the inning.

After a Bobcat error allowed the first Mars Hill run of the game to score, Erin Vickery smacked a two-run double for a 3-0 lead.

The Lions scored four runs in the second on a Patricia Thompson double, a Taylor Caviness bunt single and doubles from Robyn Stanek and Vickery. Jame Booze brought home the game's final run on a single with one out in the third inning.

Vickery went three-for-three with two doubles, a single and three RBI. Thompson went two-for-two with a single, double, RBI and two runs scored. Booze and Caviness each went two-for-three with an RBI.

Taylor Hussey earned the win, scattering four hits with one walk and four strikeouts in four innings. Taylor Billings took the loss, allowing six runs, four earned, on six hits in 1.1 innings.

Mars Hill travels to Wingate for a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.