Mars Hill sweeps UNC Pembroke

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (9-9) swept UNC Pembroke (6-13) by scores of 7-4 and 9-8, in extra innings, Friday afternoon.

GAME ONE: MHU 7, UNCP 4

Mars Hill scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to come from behind and win game one.

Trailing 3-2, Daci Sarver's two-run single up the middle plated Janiyah Glenn and Maia Sholter to retake the lead. Bri Weimer, later in the inning, plated Sarver with a RBI single to left to build the Lions' lead to two.

Following a Braves' wild pitch that allowed Sydney Hodges to score, Farley Park collected her third RBI of the game with a single to center field, scoring Weimer.

Heading into the bottom of the third, Mars Hill trailed 1-0. Park doubled to left center to score Weimer and Camryn Sterling to go up 2-1. In the top of the sixth, Chloe Locklear's two-run single to left gave the Braves their second and final lead of the contest.

Weimer and Park led the Lions with two hits apiece while Park led all players with three RBI.

Téa Cornett allowed just two earned runs in the complete game victory, striking out seven.

GAME TWO: MHU 9, UNCP 8 - 10 Innings

Mars Hill plated two in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings, going on to win in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Trailing 7-5 in the bottom of the seventh, Daci Sarver's two-run single up the middle scored Brooke Hanson and Farley Park to tie the contest. 

Each team plated one in the ninth inning with Park posting her third RBI of the game. In the bottom of the 10th, following a wild pitch that allowed Riley Waters to advance to third, Sydney Hodges' RBI groundout to second allowed Waters to cross home for the game-winning run.

UNC Pembroke led 5-0 after the top half of the first, highlighted by Katie Hogue's two-run double. The Lions chipped away, cutting the deficit down to two. Maia Sholter's RBI double opened the scoring for Mars Hill, followed by Park's two-run double, scoring Sholter and Leah Grimes.

Heading into the fourth, the Braves led 7-3. Linde Cline's two-run double to left center in the bottom of the fourth, pulling within two, plated Waters and Sarver.

Park led all players with three hits and three RBI while Sarver and Cline each recorded two hits and two RBI apiece.

Blyth Freeman threw 9.0 innings, striking out nine in the start. Téa Cornett entered in the 10th, throwing a scoreless inning while striking out one to get credit for her second win on the day and eighth of the season.

Mars Hill opens South Atlantic Conference play on Tuesday, March 4 when they face Lenoir-Rhyne. First pitch at Ponder Field is set for 1 p.m.