Mars Hill splits penultimate series with Coker
The Mars Hill softball team (18-23, 6-16 SAC) split their Thursday series with Coker (19-23, 5-17 SAC), taking game one by a score of 7-1, but dropping game two by a score of 7-4.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (18-23, 6-16 SAC) split their Thursday series with Coker (19-23, 5-17 SAC), taking game one by a score of 7-1, but dropping game two by a score of 7-4.
GAME ONE: MHU 7, COKER 1
The Lions used the long ball to come away with a 7-1 game one victory.
In the bottom of the first, Farley Park blasted a three-run home run to put the Lions up early.
Chloe Pelham's solo home run in the top of the second was the lone Cobras' run recorded in the contest. In the bottom of the frame, Alyssa Poston's RBI double reestablished the three-run lead. Later in the frame, Jessica Senn hammered another three-run home run, putting the Lions up 7-1 after two.
Park, Poston, Katie Todd, and Abby Gatch each recorded two hits for the Lions while Park and Senn led all players with three RBI.
Poston earned her seventh win of the season, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three. Rebekah Howard picked up her first save of the year, allowing four hits and striking out five in three innings of relief work.
GAME TWO: COKER 7, MHU 4
The Cobras scored four late runs to escape game two with the 7-4 win.
Tied at three entering the top of the fifth, Cameron Jackson's RBI single provided Coker the go-ahead run. In the top of the sixth, RBI singles from Caitlyn Wray and Brooklyn Stueness pushed the Coker lead to four.
Mars Hill's Miranda Marks cut the deficit to three with a single to left, but a play at the plate ended the Lions' comeback bid.
Coker opened the scoring in the top of the second with a RBI single off the bat of Kayla Oswell. Stueness and Chloe Pelham recorded RBI doubles in the top of the third, extending the lead to three.
A solo home run off the bat of Amber McLaren in the bottom of the third broke the shutout bid and in the bottom of the fourth, Maia Sholter's two-run shot over the center field fence tied the contest at three.
McLaren, Sholter, and Kendall Bowers led the Lions with two hits apiece while Sholter led the Lions with two RBI.
Mars Hill wraps up the 2023 season with a Senior Day doubleheader against UVA Wise on Friday, April 21. First pitch at Ponder Field is set for 2 p.m.
