Lions Split With Coker on Senior Day
Coker wins the opener 8-5 before the Lions win game two 9-1
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team split a doubleheader with Coker on Senior Day, dropping the first game 8-5 before claiming a 9-1 win in game two. Mars Hill is 12-19 and 8-10 in the South Atlantic Conference while Coker is 22-21 and 8-8.
Game 1: Coker 8, Mars Hill 5
Corinne Stiles' two-out grand slam in the seventh inning gave the Cobras a come-from-behind 8-5 win.
Mars Hill got on the board in the first thanks to a two out Robyn Stanek single followed by an Erin Vickery two-run home run.
Coker evened the contest in the third inning as Tayler Barcomb reached on a one out single and scored thanks to a Riley Morris two-run home run.
Following a groundout to start the fourth, Taylor Lail put the Lions ahead with a solo home run. The Lions added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth as Vickery reached on an error and Ellen Tillman hit a two-run home run for a 5-2 lead.
Ashlee Ellen led off the Coker seventh with a walk, followed by a free pass to Barcomb. Following a strikeout, Ashley Gallman worked a walk to load the bases. Following a strikeout, Hannah Price reach on a Lion error that allowed a run to score and reloaded the bases. Stiles made her first home run of the season an important one as hit a line drive over the left field fence to give the visitors a 7-5 lead. Katelyn Szupello reached on a double and scored on an error to give the Cobras an 8-5 lead. Mars Hill was retired in order in the seventh.
Lail went two-for-three with a single, home run and RBI. Stanek went two-for-four with two singles. Tillman went one-for-three with a home run and two RBI. Vickery went one-for-four with a home run and two RBI. All five of Mars Hill's runs scored via home runs.
Tabitha Allen earned the win, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout in seven innings. Chelsea Broughman took the loss as she struck out seven but surrendered five unearned runs on four hits with three walks in 3.2 innings.
Game 2: Mars Hill 9, Coker 1
Taylor Hussey limited Coker to three hits while the Lions scored three runs in the first and second innings for the victory.
Following a groundout, Melissa Garcia and Robyn Stanek each reached on walks before a fielder's choice retired Garcia and put Erin Vickery at first. Ellen Tillman hit her second home run of the afternoon to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.
In the Mars Hill second, Taylor Caviness reached on a one out double with consecutive walks to Patricia Thompson and Aleshia Peek to load the bases. A Coker error allowed a pair of runs to score. Following a fielder's choice, Vickery ripped a single up the middle to plate a run.
Taylor Lail led off the Mars Hill third inning with a walk before being replaced on the basepaths by Emily Crouse. Following a Hussey sacrifice bunt, Crouse would score on a Peek groundout.
Stanek led off the fourth inning with a single and scored on a Tillman base hit for a 8-0 Lion lead.
Riley Morris led off the Coker fifth inning with a double and advanced to third on a goundout before scoring on a Tyresha Ellis infield single. Taylor Caviness led off the home half of the fifth with a bunt single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Peek base hit to end the game.
Caviness went three-for-three with three singles and two runs scored. Vickery went two-for-three with a pair of singles and an RBI. Tillman went two-for-four with four RBI. Thompson went one-for-two with a single while Peek went one-for-three with a single and two RBI. Stanek was one-for-two with two runs scored.
Hussey made the most of her 64th career start, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts in five innings and is now in sole possession of third place all-time in games started. Brittany Long is charged with the loss as she allowed six runs, four earned, on two hits with four walks and a strikeout in 1.1 innings of work.
Mars Hill travels to Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader
