Lions split with Tornado in non-conference play

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (17-6) earned a split with King (14-9) in non-conference play Tuesday afternoon at Ponder Field, taking game one by a score of 7-2 and falling in game two by a score of 12-0 in six innings.

GAME ONE: MHU 7, KU 2

The Lions used a four-run first inning to jump ahead of King and hold a lead that would not be relinquished.  Leading off the inning, Ragan Broome smashed an opposite field home run to open the scoring.  Later in the frame, with runners on second and third, a Tornado error allowed Casey Stanek to score the Lions' second run.  Ashley Evans' RBI single up the middle plated Hannah Smith and to cap off the inning, Emiley Burriss hit into a fielder's choice that allowed Jordan Harris to cross home.

King cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth.  With the bases loaded, Hanna Adams ripped a single through the left side of the infield, allowing Hattie Campbell to score.  A sacrifice fly off of the bat of Casey Gilbert plated Azlee Sells for the Tornado's second and final run of the game.

Stanek recaptured the four-run lead with a two-run home run in the bottom half of the frame.  In the bottom of the sixth, Addison Harris' RBI single plated Broome for the Lions seventh run of the contest.

The Lions were able to escape four bases loaded situations without allowing a run, including a double-play in the top of the third where Stanek snagged a line drive and was able to double up Gilbert at third.

Adams led the Tornado with three hits in four at-bats, collecting one RBI.  Smith had a team-high three hits for Mars Hill.  Stanek led the team with two RBI.

Rachel Farmer suffered her first loss of the season, allowing seven runs on 12 hits in six innings pitched.  Stanek picked up her South Atlantic Conference leading 11th win of the season in her 10th complete game.  She allowed two runs on 11 hits while striking out two.

GAME TWO: KU 12, MHU 0

The Tornado bats continued to stay lively entering the second game and was able to plate 12 runs to pick up the split and end the Lions' 10-game winning streak.

With the bases loaded in the top of the second, Casey Gilbert's RBI single through the left side of the infield allowed Danielle Parks to score the opening run.  Kay Brokering's two-run single extended the King lead to three and later to four off of a Jenna Burnett RBI single.

Brokering boosted the Tornado lead to 7-0 off of a three-run home run in the top of the fourth and added another RBI, her sixth in the contest, off of a RBI double in the sixth.  The Tornado added four more runs in the top of the sixth to go up 12-0 heading into the bottom of the frame.

The Lions had five hits on the day, two of which came off the bat of Casey Stanek.

Gilbert earned the win, striking out five in six innings pitched.  Ashley Collins suffered her first loss of the season, allowing four runs on four hits in 1.1 innings pitched.

Mars Hill returns to action on Thursday, March 21st when they take on Limestone in non-conference action.  First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.