Mars Hill earns split with King

BRISTOL, Tenn. - The Mars Hill softball team (2-6) earned the split with King (6-6) Tuesday afternoon, dropping game one by a score of 12-4, but taking game two, 4-3.

GAME ONE: KU 12, MHU 4

The Tornado used a nine-run second inning to fuel their 12-4 win over Mars Hill in Tuesday's first contest.

Entering the bottom of the frame down 2-1, King stormed ahead led by Casey Gilbert's two-run double to left center field, taking the 4-2 lead.  Later in the inning, leading 6-2, a two-run single from Danielle Parks extended the lead to six.  Gilbert, later in the inning with the bases loaded, was hit by a pitch, plating the Tornado's 10th run of the contest and her third RBI of the inning.

Mars Hill responded in the top of the third with a two-run home run off the bat of Emiley Burriss, however, King added two runs in the bottom of the fifth to close the game out in five innings as Parks crossed home from a RBI single from Katelyne Loudy.

Parks and Azlee Sells led the Tornado with two hits while Gilbert led all players, recording three RBI.  Maggie Langheim led the Lions with two hits.

Gilbert picked up the win, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out six.  Ashley Collins was credited with the loss, allowing 10 runs on six hits in 1.1 innings pitched.

GAME TWO: MHU 4, KU 3

Mars Hill rallied from two runs down to come away with the split, downing King by a score of 4-3.

After allowing two runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by Kaylee Rowland's solo home run, the Lions began to cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth.  Sydney Craig's RBI single plated Ashley Evans for the Lions' first run of the game.

A RBI single off the bat of Cassidy Allen in the top of the fifth knotted the game at two, scoring Ashley Hamlin.  With the bases loaded, a fielder's choice off the bat of Craig scored Allen to give the Lions the lead, 3-2.

Allen plated the game-winning run with a RBI single through the left side, scoring Shae Condon in the top of the sixth.  Danielle Parks cut the deficit to one with a RBI double in the bottom half of the frame, but the Lions held strong in the seventh, closing out the contest as Erin Foster flew out to center field.

Mars Hill recorded 13 hits in the game with Allen's three leading the way.  Craig, Evans, Ashley Hamlin, and Emiley Burriss each had two.  Ashley Collins earned the win, striking out six in 4.2 innings pitched while allowing one run on three hits.

Mars Hill opens up South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday, February 29 when they face Carson-Newman on the road.  First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.