Lions sweep Milligan in non-conference play

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill softball team improved to 5-1 on the year with their sweep of Milligan (0-2) Thursday afternoon at Ponder Field.  The Lions took game one by a score of 7-0 and rallied in the bottom of the sixth to take game two, 7-5.

GAME ONE: MHU 7, MIL 0

A dominant fifth inning helped lead Mars Hill to the 7-0 win in game one over Milligan.  Casey Stanek struck out the side in the top of the frame.  Kicking off their five-run inning, with runners on second and third, Addison Harris ripped a double into left field to score both runners.  In the next at-bat, Stanek plated Harris with a RBI double of her own.  Hannah Smith followed up with a two-run blast over the right field fence to put the Lions up 7-0 at the conclusion of the inning.

The Lions took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Ragan Broome led off with a double to right center field and advanced to third on an Addison Harris sacrifice bunt.  In an attempted hit and run, Broome was caught in a rundown, but slid past the tag at the plate.

Jordan Harris extended the Lions lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI single that plated the pinch running Shae Condon.

Stanek earned her second complete game win of the season.  She allowed two hits and struck out seven.  Kassi Butcher was credited with the loss, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in 4.1 innings pitched.

GAME TWO: MHU 7, MIL 5

Jordan Harris' three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth gave Mars Hill the 7-5 win to complete the sweep over Milligan.  Following a Casey Stanek RBI double down the right field line, Harris blasted an opposite field shot to provide the game-winning runs.

Stanek came in to pitch in the top of the seventh and earned the save.

The Lions struck first in the bottom of the second to go up 1-0.  With two outs and a runner on third, a bloop single into shallow left field by Danielle Harris plated Jordan Harris.  Answering back in the top of the third, a leadoff home run to center field by Karsten Miller tied the game at one.

Mars Hill regained the lead in the bottom of the third, going up 2-1 off of a Maggie Langheim RBI single.  Christiana Marasa tacked on another run to the Mars Hill lead in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI single into centerfield, plating Ragan Broome from second.

Mars Hill led 3-1 entering the top of the sixth inning.  With runners on first and second and two outs, Milligan's Madison Cook launched a three-run home run over the left field wall to give the Buffaloes a 4-3 lead late in the ballgame.

Jennifer Poston is credited with the win, striking out two in two innings pitched.  Josie Milam was credited with the loss, allowing four runs on two hits in 1 inning pitched.

The Lions return to action on Friday, February 15^th when they host Davis and Elkins at Ponder Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.