Lions split with Trojans in SAC action

CANDLER, N.C. - In a tale of two games, the Mars Hill (15-17, 6-12 SAC) softball team split with Anderson (29-13, 11-7 SAC) on Tuesday afternoon at Enka High School. The Lions dropped game one in extra innings, 4-3, but rallied to take game two, 13-11, to earn the split.

GAME ONE: AU 4, MHU 3

Tied at three entering the ninth inning, a RBI single from Meghan Majeski proved to be the difference maker as Anderson took a tightly played game one.

After four scoreless innings, the Trojans opened the scoring when Mattison Cantrell hit a solo homerun to left-center field in the top of the fifth. Later in the inning, Mattie Hamilton's RBI single through the left side plated Majeski to give Anderson a two-run lead.

Cutting the deficit in half with one swing in the bottom half of the inning, Casey Stanek hit her first homerun of the year over the center field fence. Addison Harris, in the bottom of the sixth, tied the game with a solo homerun to left-center field.

In the eighth inning, both teams traded runs to force the ninth and deciding frame. Ali Anderson grounded out to Ragan Broome, allowing Mattie Hamilton to score. The Lions answered back when Christiana Marasa hit a sacrifice fly to score Cassidy Allen.

Each team's starting pitchers had stellar outings. Kayla Pepper, in the win, pitched nine innings and struck out six. She allowed two earned runs on five hits. Stanek, in the losing outing, struck out a career-high eight batters and had a 0.78 earned run average in the nine innings pitched. The eight strikeouts were the most by a Lions' pitcher this season in one outing.

GAME TWO: MHU 13, AU 11

In a departure from game one's pitching duel, the bats came alive for both squads in game two, combining for 24 runs.

With the game tied at nine entering the bottom half of the sixth inning, Mars Hill plated four runs to take the lead for good.

With two quick outs to start the frame, Coral Foster broke the tie with a homerun to left-center field; her first of the season. Following two singles from Jordan Harris and Hollie Norris, Ragan Broome cleared the bases with a three-run homerun for her 11th on the year.

Anderson would tack on two runs in the top of the seventh off of a Cailah Niles' double to right-center field, but Casey Stanek, who entered the game in the sixth inning, was able to force a pop-up to Broome to earn the win.

The Trojans struck in the top of the first inning with Mattie Hamilton's three-run homerun. Mars Hill would cut the lead down to one in the bottom half of the inning. Bobbi Jones doubled down the right field line to score Shae Condon while Ashley Evans' single plated Jones.

Evans, on a sacrifice bunt, tied the game in the bottom of the third as Condon scored her second run of the game.

Solo homeruns from Niles and Joshlyn Martin in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, gave Anderson a two-run lead heading into the bottom half of the fifth.

The Lions exploded for six runs to take a 9-5 lead into the sixth. Evans' two-RBI double to right-center field plated Jones and Stanek to tie the game at five. After an Anderson error, Danielle Harris reached second after scoring Evans. Jordan Harris' RBI single up the middle provided the Lions a two-run lead. Stanek, in her second at-bat of the inning, singled through the left side of the infield and scored Jordan Harris and Hollie Norris.

Anderson's resilience shown through in the sixth inning, scoring four runs to tie the game once again. Martin began the scoring with a RBI single to right field. With her and the pinch running Khloe Saunders on base, Hamilton's three-run homerun knotted the game at nine.

Hamilton finished the game going 2-for-4 with six RBI. Niles and Meghan Majeski each had three hits; Niles collected three RBI. Evans led the Lions, going 2-for-3 with four RBI. Stanek had a team-high three hits in the game with two RBI.

Stanek, in 1.1 innings pitched, allowed two runs on three hits for the win. Randee Bettis, in 1.2 innings pitched, gave up four earned runs, six total, on six hits in the loss.

The Lions return to Enka High School on Saturday, April 21 for a SAC doubleheader versus Wingate. Prior to the game, several Mars Hill seniors will be honored on Senior Day. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.