Mars Hill splits with North Greenville in non-conference play
The Mars Hill softball team (18-9) split with North Greenville (14-17) Monday afternoon, taking game one by a score of 10-8, but falling 5-2 in game two.
TIGERVILLE, S.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (18-9) split with North Greenville (14-17) Monday afternoon, taking game one by a score of 10-8, but falling 5-2 in game two.
GAME ONE: MHU 10, NGU 8
The Lions scored twice in the top of the seventh to come away with the 10-8 victory in game one. Sydney Craig scored the game-winning run off of a Shae Condon triple down the left field line. Ragan Broome's RBI single added an insurance run for Mars Hill, allowing Condon to score.
Mars Hill took a 2-0 lead after one inning, highlighted by Jordan Harris' RBI double that plated Casey Stanek. The Crusaders cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third with Taylor Koon's RBI double that scored Brooklyn Stone.
In the top of the fourth, the Lions added two runs off of a Taylor Nilsson RBI double and Addison Harris RBI single. Krista Romine's RBI double to left field in the top of fifth plated Stanek for her second run of the game and the Lions' fifth.
Koon knocked picked up her third RBI of the contest with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth. Following a Mars Hill error, Koon scored the Crusaders' fourth run of the contest to pull within one.
The sixth inning saw the bats come alive for both squads, combining for seven runs. Mars Hill's Christiana Marasa plated Condon with a RBI single and advanced Broome to third. Jordan Harris' infield single allowed Broome to score, putting Mars Hill up 7-4. On a North Greenville passed ball, Marasa scored the Lions' eighth run of the game.
The Crusaders tied the contest in the sixth, scoring four runs. Stone's RBI single plated Makayla Brackett to pull within three. Sam Kicklighter's two-run home run narrowed the deficit to one before Josie Reed's RBI single knotted the game at eight, scoring Molli Littlefield.
Koon and Kicklighter each had three hits in the game with Koon's three RBI leading all players. Jordan Harris and Stanek each had three hits for the Lions.
Marasa picked up her fourth win of the season, allowing one run on two hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Callie Richards was credited with the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings pitched.
GAME TWO: NGU 5, MHU 2
The Crusaders used two two-run innings to topple the Lions in game two, picking up the split.
Claire Gilmore's RBI single scred Taylor Koon for the first run of the contest in the bottom of the first. Gilmore scored later in the frame off of a Josie Reed single.
North Greenville doubled their lead in the bottom of the third with a two-run double off the bat of Jenna Hewes to score both Koon and Gilmore.
The Lions chipped away at the lead in the top of the fourth, beginning with Ashley Evans' RBI single up the middle to plate Krista Romine. Casey Stanek's RBI double to left field plated Evans to cut the Crusaders' lead in half.
Hewes drove in her third RBI of the game in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run, going up 5-2 late in the contest.
Hewes went 3-for-3 from the plate with three RBI to lead all players. Romine led the Lions with two hits in the contest.
Jaelin Griffin picked up the complete game victory, striking out nine and allowing two runs on seven hits. Ashley Collins was credited with the loss, giving up four runs on six hits in 2.2 innings pitched.
The Lions return to South Atlantic Conference play on Wednesday, March 27th when they host Tusculum at Ponder Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.