Mars Hill earns split with LMU on road
The Mars Hill baseball team (4-5, 4-4 SAC) completed the series split with Lincoln Memorial (5-6, 4-4 SAC) Monday afternoon, dropping game one by a score of 8-5, but taking game two, 9-6.
HARROGATE, Tenn. - The Mars Hill baseball team (4-5, 4-4 SAC) completed the series split with Lincoln Memorial (5-6, 4-4 SAC) Monday afternoon, dropping game one by a score of 8-5, but taking game two, 9-6.
GAME ONE: LMU 8, MHU 5
Despite a last inning rally, the Lions were held off by the Railsplitters, dropping game one by a score of 8-5.
Mars Hill entered the top of the seventh down 8-2 before a two-out bases loaded walk drawn by Casey Mawhinney plated Scottie Lee. Kameron Reynolds blasted a ball to the shortstop that was bobbled and found its way to the outfield, allowing Austin Treadway and Austin Purser to score, cutting the lead down to three. A Lions' line out saw the end of the contest.
Treadway opened the scoring for the Lions in the top of the first with a two-run double that saw Ruben Trillo and Chad Sikes cross home. In the bottom half of the inning, the Railsplitters tied it up with a bases loaded walk followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dalton Dedas.
The Railsplitters went on to score at least one run in every inning, including two in the fifth, a two-run home run from Zach Fritts to extend the LMU lead to 7-2.
Fritts and Ryan Kuruth led Lincoln Memorial with two RBI apiece. They, along with Tyler Adams, each recorded two hits. Treadway led the Lions with two hits and two RBI.
Kevin Norton picked up the win, striking out eight in six innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits.
GAME TWO: MHU 9, LMU 6
Mars Hill's five-run fourth inning helped secure the split in the final game of the series, downing Lincoln Memorial, 9-6.
Leading 2-1 entering the inning, a Trevor Bailey two-run double scored Tyler Lala and Easton Rhoney. Following Kameron Reynolds' single to shortstop, a throwing error allowed the bases to be cleared as the Lions went up 7-1 after four.
Lala recorded his fourth RBI of the day off a two-run double down the left field line that saw Jordan Lathe and Ruben Trillo score.
Lincoln Memorial cut into the lead in the sixth, scoring three runs, highlighted by Dalton Dedas' RBI double to center field that plated Andrew Keene. Keene, in the ninth, singled to left field, allowing Zuriel Collins to score and cut the Mars Hill lead down to four.
Lala opened the scoring in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly that saw Lathe score. Tyler Adams' RBI groundout in the bottom half of the inning tied the contest at one. A Lincoln Memorial error in the second allowed the Lions to retake the lead 2-1, as Reynolds scored the go-ahead run.
Lala went 3-of-4 from the plate with three RBI. Reynolds added three hits and one RBI. Brent Richey went 3-of-5 for the Railsplitters to lead the team.
Sam Kaplan picked up his first win of the season, striking out six in six innings pitched. He allowed four runs on five hits. Connor Presnell and Max Poole combined for three innings of relief work, only surrendering two hits and one earned run.
The Lions host Tusculum this weekend, (March 6 & 7) in a four-game series at Henderson Field. First pitch for both days is set for 12 p.m.
