Lions Sweep Tusculum

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team swept a doubleheader against Tusculum at Ponder Field on Wednesday, winning the first game 7-3 on a walk-off grand slam before a 4-1 triumph in the nightcap. Mars Hill improves to 11-16 overall and 7-7 in the South Atlantic Conference while Tusculum drops to 15-19 and 5-11.

Game 1: Mars Hill 7, Tusculum 3

Erin Vickery's walk-off grand slam broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh to give the Lions the victory.

Vickery got the Lions on the board in the first with a two-run home run with two outs. A walk and two singles would load the bases but a fielder's choice ended the frame.

Tusculum got on the board in the fourth inning as Kaytlin Stroinski led off with a single and scored on a Robin Stoner base hit.

Brooke Rhodes led off the sixth inning for Tusculum with a single before the Pioneers took their first lead of the afternoon on a Treslyn Resse home run. Mars Hill would answer in the home half of the frame as Chelsea Broughman led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an Ellen Tillman pinch hit single to even the contest at 3.

After Tusculum stranded a runner at second in the visiting half of the seventh, Peek and Melissa Garcia reached on consecutive walks followed by a Robyn Stanek base hit to load the bases without an out. Vickery ended the game with a blast to right center field.

Vickery went two-for-four with two home runs, two runs scored and six RBI. Peek went one-for-one with a single, two runs scored and three walks. Broughman went one-for-one with a double and run scored.  Tillman went one-for-one with a single and RBI. Taylor Lail and Jamie Booze each went one-for-three with a single. For Tusculum, Reese went two-for-two with a home run and single, while Stroinski went two-for-four with a pair of singles and stolen base.

Broughman earned her third win of the season, allowing one run on one hit with a walk and a strikeout in two innings. Shelby Culler allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings. Cayla Cecil took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and a strikeout in 5.1 innings.

Game 2: Mars Hill 4, Tusculum 1

Robyn Stanek's solo home run with one out in the sixth proved to be the winning hit as the Lions held off a Tusculum rally for the sweep.

The first three innings featured one combined hit before Ellen Tillman's two-out home run in the fourth inning gave the Lions a 1-0 lead. Tusculum mustered a pair of hits in their next two at-bats before Stanek's home run gave the Lions a 2-0 lead. Tillman would reach on an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a Jamie Booze triple. Hollie Norris scored the final run of the game for the Lions on a wild pitch.

Tusculum didn't go quietly in the seventh as the Pioneers loaded the bases with no outs thanks to an error and a pair of singles. After a fielder's choice retired the lead runner at home plate, Nicole Ball worked a bases loaded walk to get the visitors on the board. A flyout and a popout ended the game.

Tillman went two-for-two with a home run, single, two runs scored and an RBI. Booze went two-for-three with a single, triple and RBI. Stanek went one-for-three with a home run and RBI. Taylor Hussey went one-for-three with a single.

Alix Kruel went one-for-two with a single to lead the Tusculum offense. Brooke Rhodes, Robin Stoner and Bailey Culler each went one-for-three with a single.

Hussey earned the win, allowing one run on five hits in six-plus innings. Chelsea Broughman earned the save, issuing one walk in an inning of work. Eliza Davis was the losing pitcher as she allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout in six innings.

Mars Hill hosts Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at 2 p.m.