Lions fall to L-R in SAC doubleheader on road

HICKORY, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (5-18, 2-10 SAC) was swept by Lenoir-Rhyne (24-9, 9-3 SAC) by scores of 8-3 and 12-1 Sunday afternoon.

GAME ONE: L-R 8, MHU 3

The Bears took game one after scoring seven straight runs through three innings.

Mars Hill took the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first with a two-run home run off the bat of Maggie Langheim.  In the bottom of the frame, a two-run double by Cassidy Wall tied the game and later in the Bears' at-bats, Kendall Osborne's two-run single gave them their first lead of the day.

In the bottom of the third, Lauren Rakes singled to score Julia Mardigan.  She later scored off of Katelyn Rackard's two-run shot over the right field fence.

Micki Maxson, in the top of the fourth, cut the deficit to four by scoring Farley Park with a RBI double to left field.  Lenoir-Rhyne tacked on their eighth run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth scoring on a wild pitch.

Rakes earned her 12th win of the season, striking out eight and allowing three runs on four hits.  Kayla Gallagher was credited with the loss.

GAME TWO: L-R 12, MHU 1

Lenoir-Rhyne's offense carried over in game two, scoring 12 runs in three innings.

Leading 3-0 after the first, the Bears scored five in the second highlighted by Cassidy Wall's two-run double.  In the third, the Bears scored four with Hannah Jennings three-run home run being the highlight.

Mars Hill's lone run came off of a RBI groundout from Sydney Craig that scored Zoie Pistel.

Savannah Moorefield went 3-for-3 from the plate, scoring three runs.  Morgan Beeler picked up her 10th win of the season, striking out five while allowing one run on five hits.  Deja Smith was given the loss.

Mars Hill returns to Ponder Field on Wednesday, March 30 when they take on Newberry.  First pitch of game one is set for a 1 p.m. start.