Lions split with Catawba

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (11-12, 3-5 SAC) split with Catawba (14-8, 2-3 SAC), dropping game one by a score of 5-3, but claiming game two by a score of 10-2.

GAME ONE: CAT 5, MHU 3

Catawba held off a Lions' seventh inning rally to take game one by a score of 5-3.

Mars Hill, trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, had runners on first and second, threatening a comeback. A ground ball to the left side was fielded by the shortstop and tossed over to third to end the ball game.

The Indians opened the scoring in the first, plating two runs. Riley Tucker's RBI single was followed up by a RBI groundout from Kary Hales. In the bottom of the frame, Amber McLaren cut the lead in half with a leadoff home run.

After three scoreless innings, Catawba's Christina Brendle launched a three-run home run over the center field fence to put the Indians up by three.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Lions scored two runs off of an Indians' error. 

Brendle led all players with two hits and three RBI. Miranda Marks led the Lions with two hits.

Alexandra Baquie earned the win, striking out eight while allowing three runs on five hits.

GAME TWO: MHU 10, CAT 2 (5 Innings)

The Mars Hill offense came alive in game two, plating 10 runs in the win.

The Lions opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs. Alyssa Poston put the Lions up by two with a single through the right side that scored Micki Maxson and Katie Todd. Following a run scored by Amber McLaren, Poston was later scored off of a sacrifice fly from Miranda Marks.

Bri Gallagher's single in the fourth broke the shutout bid, scoring Kary Hales. Gallagher later scored off of a Mars Hill error to pull the Indians within two.

In the fourth, the Lions plated five runs, beginning with Jessica Senn's two-run double to center, scoring Poston and Zoie Pistel. Kristyn Ezzo's RBI single up the middle scored Senn and was later plated off of a Katie Todd triple down the left field line. Kendall Bowers capped off the inning with a single through the left side to score Todd.

In the bottom of the fifth, Micki Maxson blasted a solo home run over the center field wall to secure the game two victory.

Poston and Senn led all players with two RBI apiece while Senn led the Lions with two hits.

Poston, the defending South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Week, picked up her fourth win of the season, striking out four while allowing two runs on six hits.

The Lions return to the diamond on Saturday, March 11 when they host Tusculum inside Ponder Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.