Lions Cruise Past Bobcats In Non-Conference Action

BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Mars Hill softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader against Lees-McRae Monday afternoon. The Lions were able to prevail by scores of 4-0 and 13-1. Mars Hill improves to 13-20 overall while dropping LMC to 7-31.

Taylor Lail led a potent offense on the afternoon, setting a new career-high with five RBIs in game number two. Kayleigh Jonas also had a productive day, batting .500 (3-6) with four RBIs and three runs scored during the two games.

Pitching was key for the Lions on the afternoon with both starters going the distance and only giving up one run and nine hits over the two games.

GAME ONE

Coming off a weekend series that saw that offense struggle, the Lions looked to make a statement early against the Bobcats. That is just what they did, jumping out to a quick lead following a three-run first inning. Krista Romine got the game started with a leadoff walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from Ally Sherman. Romine came in to score one batter later as Kayleigh Jonas roped a double to right center.

After a fly ball out, Ragan Broome contributed a RBI single before stealing second base to put herself in scoring position. Ellen Tillman followed her with a two-bagger to left center to cap off the 3-0 start.

Hollie Norris led the second frame off with the Lions' third extra-base hit of the contest, doubling to left field and then stealing third. Emily Crouse came through with a clutch knock to push the margin to 4-0 heading into the bottom half of the second.

That is all the offense that starting pitcher Lacee Hunsucker would need as she stifled the Bobcats' bats throughout the entire game, collecting a complete-game shutout and allowing only three hits. Hunsucker improves to 1-1 on the season.

GAME TWO

MHU picked up where they left off in game one, plating three runs in the first inning. Singles by Romine and Jonas put runners on first and second with two outs. Lail stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run bomb to left center to give the Blue and Gold an early lead.

The second frame looked as if the Lions would go down in order, with the first two batters being retired in relatively easy fashion. However, there is a reason there are three outs in an inning. A miscue from the LMC defense followed by a single and wild pitch gave Mars Hill runners on second and third with two outs. Jonas walked to load the bases and Erin Vickery earned a free pass to force a run in. Lail followed that with a rope up the middle to extend the Lions lead to 6-0 after two.

The offense continued to pour it on in the third, loading the bases for a second time in as many innings, this time with no outs. Madelyn Furr cracked a single to left field to plate a run and Jonas split the gap in right center to clear the bases and blow the game wide open. Vickery earned her second RBI of the contest with a base knock, scoring Jonas, giving the Lions a comfortable 11-0 advantage. Starting pitcher, Casey Stanek, helped her own cause with a solo homerun in the top of the fourth, pushing the lead to 12-0.

Lees-McRae was finally able to make a mark in the scoring column in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff homerun from Sarah Tucker.

Mars Hill tacked on an extra run in the fifth and Stanek closed the game out, giving the Lions a sweep with a game two final score of 13-1. Stanek earned her first win of the season, throwing all five innings while allowing one run on six hits.

The Lions will return to action on Wednesday, April 13 as they welcome conference foe Brevard to Ponder Field for a SAC doubleheader. Game one is set to begin at 2:00 p.m.