Mars Hill splits with Newberry
The Mars Hill (11-11, 2-6 SAC) softball team rebounded from a game one 10-2 loss to earn a split in South Atlantic Conference play versus Newberry (23-13, 4-4 SAC) with a 12-2 win in game two.
CANDLER, N.C. - The Mars Hill (11-11, 2-6 SAC) softball team rebounded from a game one 10-2 loss to earn a split in South Atlantic Conference play versus Newberry (23-13, 4-4 SAC) with a 12-2 win in game two.
GAME ONE: NBY 10, MHU 2
Newberry opened the game with an offensive outburst, plating six runs in the top of the first inning. Natalie Willis hit a two-run homerun with one out to left field to put the Wolves up by two. With two outs in the inning and a runner on third, Haley Wildes' double to left field scored Haley Simonds. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, a hot shot to shortstop could not be handled properly, allowing Wildes to score. The next batter, Sydney Patterson, who led off the inning, singled up the middle to drive in two more runs.
The Wolves added to their lead in the third and fourth innings. Wildes scored on a Mars Hill error in the third to hold a 7-0 lead. In the fourth inning, two consecutive groundouts to shortstop scored Tori Caldwell and Willis, respectively. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Daphne Peyton drew a walk to score Wildes for her third run of the game.
The Lions broke Emily Marchbanks' no-hit bid in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo homerun off the bat of Emiley Burriss. Mars Hill added another run in the bottom of the fifth when Ashley Evans singled to left field to score Bobbi Jones.
Willis led all players with three hits while driving in two runs. Patterson and Peyton each had two RBI.
Marchbanks picked up her 10th win on the year, allowing one run on two hits. Christiana Marasa was credited with the loss, pitching 0.2 innings and allowing six runs on seven hits.
GAME TWO: MHU 12, NBY 2
Christiana Marasa earned a bit of revenge in game two, capping off the 12-2 win with a walkoff three-run homerun in the bottom of the fifth to earn the split.
Natalie Willis continued her momentum from game one, opening the scoring in the top of the first with a solo homerun to left field.
The Lions answered back in the bottom of the second when Bobbi Jones blasted a two-run homerun to left-center field to give the Lions their first lead of the day. Taylor Lail extended the Mars Hill edge to 3-0 in the bottom of the third with a RBI double to left field that plated Ashley Evans.
Sydney Patterson pulled the Wolves within one in the top of the fourth inning by reaching on an error with the bases loaded, allowing Morgan Wagaman to score. With the bases still loaded, Casey Stanek was able to force Tori Caldwell to groundout to shortstop to end the threat.
Mars Hill tacked on six runs in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by a grand slam from Lail. Prior to the bases clearing shot, Addison Harris drew a walk with the bases loaded to score Kayleigh Jonas. Emiley Burriss was next up for Mars Hill and was hit by a pitch. Ragan Broome crossed home plate to put the Lions up 5-2 heading into Lail's at-bat.
Marasa came in to pinch hit for the Lions and drove a ball deep to center field to secure the win for Mars Hill.
Lail went 2-for-3 in the game, driving in five runs; the most by anyone on the afternoon. Jones and Jonas each had two hits for the Lions.
Alyssa Ball was credited with the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in three innings pitched. Stanek gave up one earned run on three hits in the complete game performance.
Mars Hill returns to the field on Wednesday, April 4 to take on Carson-Newman in doubleheader action. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. with game two slated to start at 4 p.m.
