Lions Sweep Cavaliers In Offensive Outburst

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill softball team finally played its first games of the season within the friendly confines of Ponder Field and the made the most of it by sweeping the Montreat Cavaliers. The Lions were able to run-rule the visitors in both games of the doubleheader by scores of 10-0 and 10-2, respectively. MHU improves to 6-9 on the season while MC drops to 0-20.

GAME ONE

Following a three-up, three-down top of the first for the defense, the Lions wasted no time putting runs on the board. Back-to-back hits and then an error loaded the bases for the Blue and Gold with no outs. MHU then went on to play small-ball to gain the early advantage. A sacrifice fly, groundout, and another miscue from the Cavaliers' defense staked the home team to a 3-0 lead, early.

Once again Montreat went 1-2-3 in its half of the inning and the Lions came back in on the prowl once again. After a groundout to start the inning, three consecutive singles loaded the bases for the second time in as many innings. A hustle play from Madelyn Furr on a soft ground ball to the shortstop put all hands safe and pushed across another run for Mars Hill.

Erin Vickery lifted a sac fly to right field and Montreat booted another ball to give the Lions two more runs. Shelby Culler provided a big two-out double to score the fourth and fifth runs of the second inning. Mars Hill led 8-0 after two.

The Lions added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth by way of RBIs from Taylor Lail and Ellen Tillman and from that point it was all academic as Culler retired the Cavaliers in order to preserve the one-hit shutout. Shelby improved to 2-0 on the year, firing all five innings while allowing a single hit and striking out seven.

Kaleigh Jonas led the offense during game one with a 3-4 outing and two runs scored. Erin Vickery, Lail, and Culler all chipped in two RBIs apiece.

GAME TWO

Montreat came out in the second game and posted an early run to take its first lead of the afternoon. That advantage did not last long as the Lions put up a three-spot in the bottom of the second inning.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Kaleigh Jonas roped a double to deep center field to plate all three runs of the inning for the Lions. A quiet third frame for MC allowed the home team to do more damage in its half, plating three more runs on five hits, with Lail, Jamie Booze, and Coral Foster all collecting hit to drive in a run. At this point the Lions were in control 6-1 after three.

The Cavaliers tacked on a single run in the fourth, but the Lions put the game out of reach with a massive four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth. Five more hits contributed the onslaught of runs, with the big hit coming off the bat of Emily Crouse, a single with the bases loaded that produced two RBIs.

Casey Stanek came in to nail the game down in the final inning. The Cavaliers were able to put the game-extending runner on second, but Stanek induced a popup to center to seal the deal.

Sydney Elkin picked up the win, hurling three innings while scattering four hits and giving up a single run. She improves her record to 4-4 on the year.

Booze had a perfect day at the plate during game two, collecting hits on all three of her at-bats and Jonas led the team with three runs knocked in. Lail, Foster, and Crouse each contributed two RBIs in the victory.

The Lions will return to action tomorrow as they travel to face Lander University in a non-conference doubleheader. The pair of games are set to begin at 1 p.m.