Lions win thriller over Cavaliers
The Mars Hill baseball team (7-10) won a 16-15 shootout over UVa-Wise (6-10) Thursday afternoon at Henderson Field.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (7-10) won a 16-15 shootout over UVa-Wise (6-10) Thursday afternoon at Henderson Field.
The Lions struck early and often in the contest, going up 7-0 after two innings. Scottie Lee's single to center field opened the scoring. A six-run second inning further extended the Mars Hill lead. Matt Honeycutt's two-run single scored Adam Plouffe and Paul Martin.
UVa-Wise scored three in the top of the third. Tyler Blaum's RBI single into right field plated Ethan Fletcher. After scoring on a wild pitch to cut the Lions' lead down to five, Brock Smith's RBI groundout pulled the Cavaliers within four entering the bottom of the frame.
Mars Hill tacked on four runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by Gray McCurry's bases clearing triple to put the Lions up 12-3 entering the fourth. The Cavaliers scored four runs over the fourth and fifth to cut the Lions' lead back down to five.
After scoring on another wild pitch for their fourth run of the game, Blaum recorded another RBI single in the fourth. Tristan Peccerelli's RBI double in the fifth plated the Cavaliers' sixth run while Bret Roberts followed up with a RBI single.
The Cavaliers scored four in the top of the sixth, highlighted by Fletcher's three-run home run. Roberts' RBI single cut the Mars Hill lead down to 13-11 entering the bottom of the frame.
The Lions scored three times in the sixth to reestablish their five-run lead. Cody Cline and Devin Mangum each recorded RBI singles while Lee's RBI groundout plated Mangum for their 16th run of the contest.
UVa-Wise scored two runs apiece in the seventh and eighth innings, but fell short in their comeback bid as Hunter Burnette picked up his second save of the season.
Blaum led the Cavaliers with four hits. Fletcher recorded a team-high four RBI. Mangum and McCurry led the Lions with three hits apiece while McCurry drove in four runs.
Max Poole picked up his second win of the season, allowing three runs on four hits in three innings pitched. Landon Faulkner gave up seven runs on seven hits in two innings pitched.
The Lions return to action on Friday, March 8th with a South Atlantic Conference matchup between Tusculum. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Henderson Field.
