Lions close out weekend series with split versus Saints
The Mars Hill baseball team (2-3, 2-2 SAC) split with Limestone (3-4, 2-2 SAC) to conclude the weekend series. The Lions took game one by a score of 17-3, but fell 9-6 in game two.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (2-3, 2-2 SAC) split with Limestone (3-4, 2-2 SAC) to conclude the weekend series. The Lions took game one by a score of 17-3, but fell 9-6 in game two.
GAME ONE: MHU 17, LU 3
The Lions used a nine-run first inning to propel them to victory in game one of Sunday's doubleheader.
Tyler Lala opened the scoring with a RBI single up the middle that plated Jordan Lathe. Following a Limestone wild pitch that put the Lions up 2-0, Trevor Bailey brought Lala home with a RBI single to left. Austin Treadway bumped the Lions' lead up to five with a two-run single to center that scored Bailey and Scottie Lee.
Lala added two more RBI in the frame off of a two-run single to left that scored Lathe and Chad Sikes.
Mars Hill tacked on three more runs in the second inning highlighted by Treadway's RBI double. Lala picked up his fourth RBI of the game off of a bases loaded walk that saw the Lions end the inning with a 12-0 lead.
Pitching woes continued for the Saints in the third inning, allowing three Lions' runs based off of bases loaded walks and one run off of a hit by pitch with the bases loaded.
Limestone recorded back-to-back home runs in the top of the fifth off the bats of Brandon Banks and Dylan Shugan.
Lala ended the game with five RBI followed by Treadway's four. Both recorded two hits. Sikes went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored.
AJ Chacon picked up his first win of the season, allowing three runs on two hits and striking out four.
GAME TWO: LU 9, MHU 6
Alex Cornell's grand slam in the top of the eighth helped secure the Limestone win in game two to earn the split.
Following a bases loaded hit by pitch, the Saints led 5-4. Cornell blasted a shot to deep center field to add cushion to the Limestone lead. Mars Hill added a run apiece in their final two at-bats, but could not complete the comeback bid.
Cornell opened the scoring in the first inning with a RBI single through the infield, plating Josh Evans. Mars Hill responded in the bottom of the third as Jordan Lathe hammered a two-run home run.
Tyler Lala hit a solo shot in the fourth to extend the Lions lead to two. Austin Treadway added a sacrifice fly, his first of two on the day, to put Mars Hill up by three.
The Saints cut into the Lions lead in the top of the fifth as Trace Whetsell crushed a two-run home run to center field. Cornell reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the seventh that allowed Evans to score and tie the game at four.
Cornell recorded six RBI in the contest, going 2-for-5. Kyle Raynor led all players with three hits. Lathe and Treadway led the Lions with two RBI apiece.
Cory Busse picked up the win, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out four in seven innings. Sam Kaplan was strong as the Lions starter, allowing three runs on six hits in 5.2 innings pitched. He struck out four.
The Lions return to the field on Saturday, February 27 when they take on Lincoln Memorial on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
