Wingate Sweeps Softball
Wingate wins 8-0 and 7-3
WINGATE, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team dropped a doubleheader to Wingate on Saturday, losing the opener 8-0 and the second game 7-3. Mars Hill drops to 4-13 overall and 0-4 in the South Atlantic Conference while Wingate improves to 15-9 and 5-1.
Game One: Wingate 8, Mars Hill 0 (5 innings)
A five-run fourth inning boosted the host Bulldogs to an 8-0 victory.
After Mars Hill stranded a pair of runners in the first inning, Wingate got on the board as Melena Helms scored on a passed ball. In the fourth, Emily Usiak scored on a bases loaded walk, followed by an infield single and two Lion errors that plated four runs. The Bulldogs pushed two runs across in the fifth on a single and a Mars Hill error.
Aleshia Peek went two-for-two with two singles, with Taylor Caviness reaching on a base hit.
Stacey Houser earned the win, allowing three hits with four walks and five strikeouts in five innings. Chelsea Broughman took the loss as she allowed eight runs,three earned, on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Game Two: Wingate 7, Mars Hill 3
Wingate scored four runs in the fifth and held off a Mars Hill rally in the seventh to complete the sweep.
Alexis Burrell singled home a run and scored on a Lion error to give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
Emily Usiak led off the fifth inning with a home run, followed by a groundout and a pair of two out singles for a 5-0 Bulldog lead after five. Katie McLaurin hit a solo home run in the sixth for a 7-0 Wingate lead.
Mars Hill didn't go down without a fight as Robyn Stanek and Erin Vickery singled to lead off the seventh and scored on a one out home run by Ellen Tillman to bring the Lions within four. Taylor Hussey reached on a walk, but a fielder's choice and groundout ended the game.
Patricia Thompson went two-for-two with two singles, while Aleshia Peek went two-for-three with two singles. Tillman went one-for-three with a home run and three RBI, while Stanek went one-for-three with a single. Vickery was one-for-two with a base hit.
Miranda Paul went the distance, allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Shelby Culler took the loss as she allowed six runs, two earned, with one walk and a strikeout in 4.2 innings.
Mars Hill returns to Ponder Field on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Carson-Newman.
