Lenoir-Rhyne Sweeps Softball
The Mars Hill softball team dropped a doubleheader to Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at Ponder Field, falling 5-3 in the first game with a narrow 1-0 defeat in the nightcap.
MARS HILL, N.C.- The Mars Hill softball team dropped a doubleheader to Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at Ponder Field, falling 5-3 in the first game with a narrow 1-0 defeat in the nightcap. Lenoir-Rhyne improves to 28-15 overall and 8-8 in the South Atlantic Conference while Mars Hill falls to 11-18 and 7-9.
Game 1: Lenoir-Rhyne 5, Mars Hill 3
Jordin Phillips' two-run single in the seventh inning proved to be the winning hit as the Bears held off a Lion rally for the 5-3 victory.
Lenoir-Rhyne scored an unearned run in the first inning on a Sarah Kenley base hit. The Lions had runners at second and third with one out in the first before a strikeout and popout ended the threat. The Bears added a run on a Lion error in the second for a 2-0 lead.
Ashley Oliver stretched the L-R lead to 3-0 with a solo home run to left field in the sixth. In the Mars Hill half of the inning, Erin Vickery reached on a fielder's choice before Ellen Tillman hit a two-run home run that just cleared the center field fence to bring the hosts to within a run.
Lenoir-Rhyne took advantage of three walks to load the bases with two outs in the seventh. Phillips ripped a single to left field that scored two runs before the Lions recorded the final out of the inning at second base.
Taylor Lail led off the Mars Hill seventh with a home run, followed by a fielder's choice and walk to put runners at first and second with one out. Following a popup, Robyn Stanek worked a walk to load the bases before a flyout ended the game.
Tillman went one-for-three with a home run and two RBI. Stanek was two-for-three with two singles and a base hit. Melissa Garcia had a pair of singles in three at-bats. Lail finished one-for-three with a home run.
Maryann Hoskins earned the win, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in six innings. Brandi Hole earned the save, allowing one hit with two walks in an inning of work. Shelby Culler took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in six innings.
Game 2: Lenoir-Rhyne 1, Mars Hill 0
Sydney Landreth's two-out single brought home the only run of the game as the Lions finished with a season-low two hits.
Aleshia Peek led off the home half of the first with a single but was stranded at second following a strikeout and a pair of groundouts.
In the L-R third, Christina Walker reached on a fielder's choice before stealing second and advancing to third on a groundout. Landreth singled to left to drive in Walker.
Mars Hill threatened in the sixth innings as Shelby Culler reached on a fielder's choice followed by a Robyn Stanek single and a walk to Erin Vickery to load the bases. Lenoir-Rhyne's Averi Miller recovered from an early bobble and threw out Ellen Tillman at first to end the inning. In the seventh, Taylor Lail reached on a leadoff walk before being replaced on the bases by Emily Crouse. Crouse advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a passed ball with one out, but a popout and groundout ended the game.
Brandi Hole earned the win, scattering two hits with four walks and three strikeouts in seven innings of work. Taylor Hussey was the tough-luck loser, allowing an unearned run on four hits with two walks and a strikeout in seven innings.
Mars Hill returns to Ponder Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Coker. Hussey, Peek and Stanek will be honored during Senior Day festivities prior to the first game.