Lions fall to LMU in home SAC opener
The Mars Hill softball team (2-10, 0-4 SAC) dropped both games versus Lincoln Memorial (14-5, 2-2 SAC) Sunday afternoon by scores of 10-1 and 11-4 in their home South Atlantic Conference opener.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (2-10, 0-4 SAC) dropped both games versus Lincoln Memorial (14-5, 2-2 SAC) Sunday afternoon by scores of 10-1 and 11-4 in their home South Atlantic Conference opener.
GAME ONE: LMU 10, MHU 1
Lincoln Memorial jumped out to the early 3-0 lead after the first inning, capitalizing off of a Lions' error. They doubled their lead in the top of the third off of McKenzie Henry's three-run home run, her fourth RBI of the game.
The Lions broke the shutout bid in the bottom of the fourth with a Emiley Burriss RBI single, plating Alexis Nix.
The Railsplitters closed out the contest on a 4-0 run with three sacrifice flies pushing them into double-digits. Henry picked up her game-high fifth RBI in the sixth inning.
Henry and Grace Cochran each recorded two hits to lead all players. Justice Smith earned the win, striking out five and allowing one run in the complete game effort.
GAME TWO: LMU 11, MHU 4
The Railsplitters reeled off 11 unanswered runs to complete the sweep over Mars Hill.
Entering the fifth inning down 4-1, a two-run home run off the bat of Sierra Hucklebee narrowed the deficit down to one. A fielder's choice later in the frame off the bat of Tori Voiles knotted the game at four.
The Railsplitters used the long ball in the sixth and seventh innings, scoring seven runs in the final two innings. A three-run shot by Audrey Petoskey provided Lincoln Memorial their first lead of the game while Voiles collected two RBI on a two-run home run. Hucklebee smashed a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to put LMU in double-digits for the second time on the afternoon.
The Lions opened the contest by scoring four straight runs. Ashley Evans put Mars Hill up 2-0 after one with a two-run blast to left field, plating Cassidy Allen in the process. Brookelynn Nanney added a solo home run in the second to extend their lead to three. In the bottom of the third, Maggie Langheim's RBI single scored Ashley Hamlin for the fourth run of the game.
Both Hucklebee and Voiles posted four RBI in the game to lead all players with Voiles and McKenzie Henry each recording three hits. Evans led the Lions with two RBI.
The Lions return to action on Saturday, March 14 on the road versus Lenoir-Rhyne. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.