Mars Hill splits final day of Valkyrie Classic
The Mars Hill softball team (4-2) split the final day of the Valkyrie Classic, falling to St. Thomas Aquinas (1-4) by a score of 10-3, but downing Converse (2-4) in extra innings, 6-5.
DUNCAN, S.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (4-2) split the final day of the Valkyrie Classic, falling to St. Thomas Aquinas (1-4) by a score of 10-3, but downing Converse (2-4) in extra innings, 6-5.
GAME ONE: STAC 10, MHU 3
St. Thomas Aquinas used a five-run first inning to win their first game at the Valkyrie Classic.
Tara Hagan drove in a pair with a double to right center while Jessica Feerick plated another two in the frame with a single down the right field line.
The Lions broke the shutout bid in the bottom of the third as Farley Park drove Abby Gatch home with an infield single. In the bottom of the sixth, trailing 9-1, Payton Little smacked a solo home run over the right field wall.
In the bottom of the seventh, Park picked up her second RBI of the game with a solo home run over the right field wall.
Park led the Lions with two hits and two RBI.
GAME TWO: MHU 6, CON 5 - 8 Innings
For the second consecutive day, the Lions defeated Converse in eight innings of play.
The Lions trailed 4-3 entering the seventh before tying the game up as Meghan Murphy drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Farley Park.
In the top of the eighth, Micki Maxson plated a pair with a double to right center field, putting the Lions up, 6-4.
Mars Hill struck first as Maxson plated Park with a RBI single to left in the top of the first. Maxson later scored off of a RBI double off the bat of Leah Grimes.
In the third, a Converse error allowed Maxson to score her second run of the game, extending the Lions' lead to 3-0.
The Valkyries used a three-run fifth inning to tie the game and took their only lead of the contest in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a Mars Hill wild pitch.
Maxson led all players with four hits and three RBI while Park added two hits and scored three runs.
Kayla Gallagher earned her first win of the season, striking out six in 3.1 innings thrown, allowing two runs on three hits.
Mars Hill returns to the diamond on Saturday, February 10 when they face both UNC Pembroke and Shaw. First pitches are respectively scheduled for 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.