Softball Loses at Francis Marion

FLORENCE, S.C. – The Mars Hill softball team dropped a pair of games to Francis Marion on Sunday, February 28 at FMU Softball Stadium. The Lions fell to 4-9 on the season while the Patriots improved to 12-6 with wins of 7-1 and 8-0.

GAME ONE

The Lions took advantage of a shaky Patriot defense in the top of the first as the first two batters reached via error and Kaleigh Jonas eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. However, FMU's pitcher settled down and retired the next three batters with swinging strikeouts.

A scoreless game would ensue as the two pitchers became locked in a duel with neither giving an inch.

Mars Hill maintained its 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth inning. A leadoff double would come around to score following another double to deep right center. However, Sydney Elkin would settle down and escape the half-inning without allowing the go-ahead run.

The Blue and Gold could not do anything with the momentum in the top of the fifth and FMU tacked on five runs in the bottom-half of the fifth inning and a single run the bottom sixth to take a commanding 7-1 lead.

Mars Hill could not do string together any offense and dropped game one of the twin-bill, 7-1. Elkin received the loss going 4 2/3 innings while giving up two earned runs, dropping her record to 3-4.

GAME TWO

The second game of the double header did not go as planned for the Lions as Francis Marion wasted no time blowing the game open, posting six runs on seven hits in the bottom of the first inning to stake the home team to a comfortable 6-0 lead.

Mars Hill could only scatter three hits over five innings and FMU added single runs in the second and third to force the game to be called after five.

Ally Sherman, Patricia Thompson, and Ellen Tillman all collected one hit apiece to lead the Lions at the plate. Jamie Booze suffered her first loss of the season as she allowed five runs on four hits .

The Lions will continue their early season schedule on Wednesday, March 2 as they take a trip to Bristol, Tenn. to take on King University. First game of the double header is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. Please check the Mars Hill athletics website for all live stat and video information to follow along with the Lions softball team.