Mars Hill splits with LMU in high scoring affairs

CANDLER, N.C. - The Mars Hill (13-15, 4-10 SAC) softball team split with Lincoln Memorial (21-19, 4-10 SAC) at Enka High School on Tuesday afternoon. The Lions dropped game one, 16-13, in extra innings, but rallied to take game two by a score of 11-9.

GAME ONE: LMU 16, MHU 13

Mars Hill trailed 11-6 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Hollie Norris started the Mars Hill comeback with a two-RBI single up the middle, plating Ashley Evans and Kayleigh Jonas. Another two-RBI single from Emiley Burriss scored Cassidy Allen and Ragan Broome to pull the Lions within one. Jordan Harris knotted the game with a RBI double to right-center field that scored Addison Harris.

Each team traded runs in the eighth and ninth innings to enter the 10th tied at 13 all. Lincoln Memorial retook the lead in the top of the 10th when Ty-Kella Goins hammered a three-run homerun over the left-center field fence to take the 16-13 lead that led to the game one victory.

Bobbi Jones gave the Lions the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a RBI single that scored Broome.

However, a six-run second inning provided the Railsplitters a 6-1 lead after two innings. Bella Buccellato began the scoring for Lincoln Memorial with a RBI double down the left field line to tie the game at one. Goins, later in the inning, doubled to left field and drove in her first two runs of the game. Three RBI singles from Allie Jones, Kelsie Hocutt and Ashlea Hunter scored the final three runs of the inning.

Allie Jones drove in her second run of the game in the top of the third with another RBI single. Goins, in the top of the fourth, put the Railsplitters up 9-1 with another two-RBI double.

Mars Hill would start their initial comeback bid in the bottom of the fourth when Brittany Duncan hit a RBI groundout with the bases loaded to score Jordan Harris. In the bottom of the fifth, Ragan Broome began the inning with a solo homerun to right-center field. Addison Harris pulled the Lions within three with a two-RBI double to left-center field.

The Railsplitters regained their five-run advantage with two runs in the top of the seventh. Hocutt singled to center field to drive home Allie Jones and Grace Cochran hit a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Teddi Collins.

Burriss led the Lions offensively with four RBI in the contest. Goins led all players, going 5-for-7 with seven RBI in the game. Jones, Webb and Hocutt each had three hits.

Justice Smith picked up the win for the Railsplitters, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits in five innings pitched. Jonas suffered the loss, going 3.2 innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits.

GAME TWO: MHU 11, LMU 9

Trailing 9-7 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lions roared back, scoring three runs in the frame to take a 10-9 lead.

Emiley Burriss tied the game at nine with a two-RBI double to left-center field that scored Ashley Evans and Kayleigh Jonas. Cassidy Allen reached on a Lincoln Memorial error, allowing Shae Condon to round third and score the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the sixth, Addison Harris added an insurance run for Mars Hill with a homerun hit to deep right field.

To open game two, Kelsie Hocutt gave the Railsplitters the early 1-0 lead with a RBI single through the left-side of the infield. Mars Hill answered in the bottom of the first frame with two solo homeruns off the bats of Ragan Broome and Taylor Lail.

Tying the game at two in the second, Jacie Pittman singled up the middle to score Teddi Collins. Mars Hill, once again, responded by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning. A RBI double from Ashley Evans gave the Lions a 3-2 lead. Moments later, Condon would reach second base on an error in the outfield that allowed Evans to score the Lions' fourth run of the game.

Lincoln Memorial would score the next five runs, including a four-run fourth. Hocutt tied the game at four with an infield single that scored Allie Jones. Grace Cochran blasted a three-run homerun to break the tie and give the Railsplitters a 7-4 edge entering the bottom half of the inning.

Lail drove in her team-leading third run of the game with a two-RBI double down the left field line to tie the game at seven.

Evans had one RBI in the contest while going 3-for-3 from the plate. Broome, Lail and Harris each had two hits. Hocutt led the Railsplitters with three hits in five at-bats, driving two. Cochran led all players with five RBI in game two.

Brittany Duncan picked up her first win of the season, going 2.2 innings and only giving up two hits. She struck out two batters. Justice Smith picked up the loss, pitching four innings and giving up five runs, including three homeruns.

The Lions return to action on Saturday, April 14 with another South Atlantic Conference doubleheader against Coker on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.