Lions fall to Eagles in SAC opener
The Mars Hill softball team (2-8, 0-2 SAC) was defeated by Carson-Newman (11-3, 2-0 SAC) on the road Sunday afternoon in their 2020 South Atlantic Conference opener by scores of 12-4 and 11-3.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - The Mars Hill softball team (2-8, 0-2 SAC) was defeated by Carson-Newman (11-3, 2-0 SAC) on the road Sunday afternoon in their 2020 South Atlantic Conference opener by scores of 12-4 and 11-3.
GAME ONE: C-N 12, MHU 4
Tied at two heading into the bottom of the second inning, the Eagles reeled off 10 straight runs over the next two innings. Shannon Smith broke the tie with RBI single up the middle, plating Taylor Scott. A Mars Hill error allowed another Eagles run to score. Later in the inning, up 6-2, Keely Quillen tripled to right center field, plating KaraLynne Levin.
In the third inning, Levi doubled to left center, clearing the bases and scoring three more Carson-Newman runs. A single through the right side off the bat of Lacie Rinus provided the Eagles a 10-run advantage.
Emiley Burriss' second solo home run of the contest pulled the Lions within nine in the top of the fourth. An Eagles' error later in the inning allowed Brookelynn Nanney to score.
Finding themselves down 2-0 after one, the Lions tied the game with solo home runs off the bats of Ashley Evans and Burriss.
Shannon Smith led all players with three hits while Levi drove in a game-high four runs. Morgan Baker-Celis earned the win, allowing four runs on four hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Ashley Collins was credited with the loss, allowing 11 runs on 10 hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
GAME TWO: C-N 11, MHU 3
Carson-Newman opened the contest, scoring four runs in the first two innings. The Eagles plated three in the second, highlighted by Taylor Scott's RBI double to left center field.
Mars Hill clawed to within one in the top of the third, as a Maggie Langheim RBI double was catalyst for a three-run inning. Ashley Evans plated Langheim off of a two-run home run, pulling the contest to a 4-3 score after three.
Carson-Newman responded by scoring seven straight runs over the fourth and fifth innings. Keely Quillen's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth plated Madison Mathis for the eight-run advantage.
Haley Caldwell led all players with three hits while she, Shannon Smith, and Abby Fiessinger each collected two RBI apiece. Evans led the Lions with two RBI.
Lacie Rinus earned her sixth win of the season, allowing no hits and striking out three in 2.1 innings pitched. Jennifer Poston suffered the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
The Lions return to action on Saturday, March 7 when they host Lincoln Memorial. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.