Mars Hill splits with Queens in SAC opener
The Mars Hill softball team split their Sunday doubleheader with Queens to open up South Atlantic Conference play. The Lions won game one by a score of 11-3, but fell 8-4 in game two.
CANDLER, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team split their Sunday doubleheader with Queens to open up South Atlantic Conference play. The Lions won game one by a score of 11-3, but fell 8-4 in game two.
GAME ONE: MHU 11, QU 3
The Lions' bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth to go up eight runs and win their first conference game of the season.
Leading 5-3, Mars Hill hammered three homeruns in the inning, all to left-center field, to take game one. Ragan Broome led the hit parade with a three-run shot that scored Addison Harris and Bobbi Jones. Kayleigh Jonas hit her second homerun of the game, a two run blast that plated Christiana Marasa. Taylor Lail capped the game with a solo shot to give Mars Hill the 11-3 win.
Jonas opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run homerun that scored Ashely Evans. Broome's two-run double in the bottom of the second extended the Mars Hill lead to 4-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Queens cut the lead in half with a RBI triple from Gemma Miller and a sacrifice fly from Kelly Winter that plated Miller. Broome picked up her third RBI of the game in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly to put Mars Hill up 5-2 entering the fifth inning.
Jordan Hunt's solo shot to right-center field cut the lead back down to two.
Broome led all players with six RBIs in the contest. Jonas went a perfect 4-for-4 with two homeruns and four RBIs.
Christiana Marasa earned her fourth win of the season, pitching six innings, allowing three runs on six hits. In 3.1 innings pitched, Courtney Pearson gave up five runs on six hits for the loss.
GAME TWO: QU 8, MHU 4
Queens rebounded in game two with an 8-4 victory.
Leading 2-1 after the first inning and following three scoreless innings, the Royals struck for three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Allison Lopez's double to left-center field scored Cierra Robinson to start the scoring. After two consecutive Royals' batters were hit by a pitch to load the bases, Jordan Hunt collected two RBIs with a double to right field.
They added two more runs to their lead in the top of the sixth. A Mars Hill error allowed Sara Ingoldsby to reach first and later advance to second which plated Elaina Frantellizzi for the Royals' sixth run of the game. Breanna Martinez put Queens up by six with a RBI single to score Frantellizzi.
Mars Hill responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, all coming off of the bat of Bobbi Jones with a three-run bomb to center field. Queens added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with a RBI single from Frantellizzi.
Broome and Addison Harris led the Lions with two hits while Jones picked up a team-high three RBIs. Hunt paced the Royals' offense with two hits and three RBIs.
Despite giving up 10 hits and four runs, Ali Celiberti earned the win. Giving up four earned runs on four hits in 4.2 innings pitched, Casey Stanek suffered the loss.
Mars Hill sits at 10-6 (1-1 SAC) overall while Queens goes to 24-4 (1-1 SAC) on the season.
The Lions return to action on Wednesday, March 21 on the road with a doubleheader versus Tusculum. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3 p.m. Game two is slated for a 5 p.m start.
