MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (4-6) split Saturday's doubleheader with visiting Charleston (1-1) at Henderson Field, dropping game one by a score of 13-9 and taking game two by a score of 3-1.
GAME ONE: UC 13, MHU 9
A four-run Charleston seventh inning proved too much to overcome for Mars Hill in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. Entering the final inning tied at nine, the Golden Eagles reeled off of four runs to come away with the 13-9 win. Austin Hathaway's RBI single opened the scoring up in the seventh. A wild pitch plated the second run and to take the four-run lead, Colby Johnson hit a two-run home run to deep left center field.
Charleston scored the first six runs of the contest over the second and third innings. In the second, Jack Brunetti his a solo home run and in the third, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Later in the third, Hayden Cartt launched a grand slam into right center field to go up 6-0.
The Lions began their comeback in the bottom half of the third, scoring twice. Daniel Vitello's RBI single broke the shut out bid. With runners on the corners, a Charleston balk plated Cody Cline to narrow the deficit to four.
Hunter Holland's RBI groundout in the bottom of the fourth cut the lead in half and in the bottom of the fifth, Mars Hill was able to knot the game at six. Gray McCurry's two-run double plated Vitello and Matt Honeycutt. McCurry later scored off of a Scottie Lee RBI single through the left side.
The sixth inning saw both teams score three runs apiece to enter the final frame of the contest tied at nine. Jesse Elliott's RBI single was followed up by a two-run double off of the bat of Hathaway. Mars Hill once again responded with Cody Cline's solo home run being the catalyst. Honeycutt's two-run double to right field pulled the Lions even.
Hunter Townsend earned the win, striking out two in two innings pitched. Brad Dzeskewicz suffered the loss, allowing three runs on two hits in an inning pitched.
GAME TWO: MHU 3, UC 1
The Lions earned the split by taking game two by a score of 3-1, led by Troy Hall's stellar performance.
After two innings, Hall recorded four strikeouts. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lions were able to provide run support by scoring twice. With the bases loaded, Adam Plouffe was walked, allowing Scottie Lee to score. With no outs and the bases loaded, Austin Treadway was able to cross home off of a double-play ball.
Hall continued throughout the Charleston lineup without allowing a hit until the top of the fifth. A leadoff single broke the no-hit bid, however, Hall's two strikeouts in the inning, along with a fly out to left field got the Lions out of the inning unscathed.
A wild pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the inning allowed Mars Hill to take a 3-1 lead into the sixth. Hall remained the contest heading into the seventh inning. After allowing a run, he was able to secure the final out of the contest as Derek Dudek lined out to center field.
Hall struck out nine in the complete game victory. Austin Henrich was credited with the loss, allowing three runs on two hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
The Lions return to action on Friday, February 22nd when they open up South Atlantic Conference play versus Coker on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
