Lions Drop Two At Lenoir-Rhyne

HICKORY, N.C. – The Mars Hill Lions softball team put together an asserted effort but were unable to take down conference-leading Lenoir-Rhyne at Bears Field on Saturday, April 02. The Lions dropped a high-scoring game one, 13-11 before falling in the nightcap 7-5. With the losses the Blue and Gold fall to 9-18 overall and 3-7 within the SAC. L-R improves to 31-7 and 10-0.

GAME ONE

The Lions threatened in the top of the first, loading the bases with two outs, but were unable to push across a run for the early lead. The Bears took advantage of the missed opportunity, plating four first-inning runs on four hits to stake themselves to a 4-0 lead early.

Mars Hill was able to earn two of those runs back in the top of the second. Back-to-back errors by the Bears defense put runners on first and second with no out. Following a strikeout, Krista Romine moved both runners into scoring position with a groundball to second base. Kayleigh Jonas then roped a double to right center to cut L-R's lead in half.

Lenoir-Rhyne pushed across a single run in the bottom of the second, but the Blue and Gold were able to knot the opening game at 5-all with a three-run third inning. Jamie Booze drew a one-out walk and Ragan Broome was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Shelby Culler laced a double to left field to drive in Booze. Two batters later, Krista Romine drove in Broome with a shot up the middle. Jonas coaxed a bases loaded walk to net the third and final run of the inning.

However, the Bears took control of the game once again in the bottom of the third with a six-spot to take a comfortable 11-5 lead. Mars Hill inched a little closer with a single run in the fourth. After a one-out triple from Jamie Booze, Broome brought her home with a groundout to the shortstop.

The Lions would not go down without a fight, tagging the Bears' pitchers for four more runs in the top of the fifth. Jonas led off the inning with a single to the shortstop and Taylor Lail followed that by going yard to cut the deficit to 13-8. After two quick outs Broome singled to center and Casey Stanek hammered a ball to right center for the Lions second two-run shot of the inning.

MHU tacked on one run in the top of the seventh and had the tying runs on second and third with two outs, but a harmless groundout took away any hope of a comeback and the Lions fell 13-11 in game one.

Stanek led the way at the plate in the opening game, going 3-for-4 with a long ball and two RBIs. Jonas added a pair of hits and three runs knocked in while Booze and Broome each chipped in a pair of hits.

Shelby Culler was tagged with the loss after tossing one inning and giving up six runs on four hits.

GAME TWO

Lenoir-Rhyne wasted no time getting the second game in hand as they scored six runs in the bottom of the first to take a commanding 6-0 lead, with the big blow coming off of a three-run homerun from Emily Kenley. The Bears added a single run in the second to make the score 7-0.

The Lions could not get anything going on offense through the first three innings, but exploded for four runs in the fourth. Jonas led the inning off with a double down the left field line followed by a walk and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Ragan Brrome stepped into the box and launched a ball into the stratosphere for a grand salami, cutting the deficit to 7-4.

Madelyn Furr led off the fifth with a walk and came around to score on a Taylor Lail single to left center to trim the gap to 7-5, but that was as close as the Lions would get, dropping game two by that same score.

Broome guided the Blue and Gold at the plate collecting three hits in three at-bats to go along with her four RBIs. Stanek took the loss, tossing 2/3 of an inning while allowing six runs on four hits. Sydney Elkin was good in relief for the Lions as she tossed 5 1/3 of one-run ball.

The Lions will return to action on Tuesday, April 5 as they travel to Greeneville, Tenn. to take on the Tusculum Pioneers. The first game is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m.