Mars Hill falls to Catawba in SAC play
The Mars Hill (10-10, 1-5 SAC) softball team was defeated in both games versus South Atlantic Conference foe Catawba (16-15, 4-2 SAC) on Monday afternoon by scores of 4-3 and 7-0.
SALISBURY, N.C. - The Mars Hill (10-10, 1-5 SAC) softball team was defeated in both games versus South Atlantic Conference foe Catawba (16-15, 4-2 SAC) on Monday afternoon by scores of 4-3 and 7-0.
GAME ONE: CAT 4, MHU 3
The Lions carried a 3-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on second and third with one out, a single to center field by Delane Smith scored Allie Barker. As Carlee Brawley rounded third and headed home, she was thrown out by Taylor Lail to the covering Casey Stanek.
The Indians scored the go-ahead and eventual winning run in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and Sydney Goertzen on second, a RBI single from Taylor Martin scored Catawba's fourth run of the game to secure the come-from-behind victory.
Smith gave Catawba an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run double to right-center field that allowed Barker and Leah Huggins to score.
Mars Hill took the lead in the top of the second, scoring three runs. With two outs and the bases loaded, Ragan Broome drew a walk that allowed Ashley Evans to cross home for the Lions' first run. A failed pickoff attempt towards third base allowed Jordan Harris to score the tying run. The Lions took the lead when Cassidy Allen reached first off of a throwing error. Hollie Norris scored the third Lions' run of the inning.
Allen and Jordan Harris had two hits apiece, making up for four of the Lions' seven hits. Broome picked up the lone RBI of the game for Mars Hill. Smith led the Indians offensively going 2-for-3 from the plate with three RBI. Baker and Huggins each added two hits.
Brooke Walser earns the win, going 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing four hits. Stanek suffers her fourth loss of the season, allowing four runs on nine hits.
GAME TWO: CAT 7, MHU 0
Catawba controlled game two, only allowing three hits while scoring seven unanswered runs to complete the sweep.
In the bottom of the second inning with runners on first and second and one out, Sierrah McCarthy tripled to left field to score Jordan Dean and Monica Taylor. Taylor Martin reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on an errant throw. Beth Ann Martin, the following batter, drove her in with a RBI single to right field.
The Lions picked up their first hit of the game in the top of the third with a double coming off of the bat of Ragan Broome. Despite being in scoring position, Mars Hill was unable to bring her home.
Taylor Martin added another run to the Catawba lead in the bottom of the third inning, reaching once again on a fielder's choice. Monica Taylor scored on another throwing error by the Lions.
The Indians capped off the dominant win with a three-run homerun from Delane Smith in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Broome, Addison Harris and Kayleigh Jonas had the three hits for the Lions. Smith matched her game one performance, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. McCarthy added two RBI.
Preston Ellenberg threw the complete game shutout, striking out eight batters. Christiana Marasa picked up the loss, going three innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits.
Mars Hill will host Newberry on Friday, March 30 at Ponder Field. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. with game two set to start at 3 pm.