Lions Split Non-Conference Matchup WIth Limestone

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's softball team split a pair of non-conference games against Limestone College on Sunday, April 17. The Saints were able to dominate offensively in game one on their way to a win of 13-2, but the Lions offense came to life in game two, run-ruling Limestone 12-3. The Lions are now 15-24 on the season while Limestone is 27-14.

The Lions honored their three seniors, Ellen Tillman, Erin Vickery, and Jamie Booze, before the start of game number one for their contributions in the Blue and Gold uniform.

GAME ONE

Limestone jumped out to a comfortable 8-0 lead after putting up two runs in the first inning followed by six more in the second, with the big blow coming by way of a bases-clearing double from Paige Bolding. A pair of runs in the third pushed the Saints lead to 10-0 after two and a half.

Ally Sherman got the Lions on the board in the bottom of the third inning, laying down a beautiful bunt hit and coming around to score on two errors by the LC defense. Limestone got that run back in the top of the fourth with a homerun to left field by Haley Crouch.

 Erin Vickery added one more run for the home team to make the score 11-2 with a mammoth homerun to left field in the home-half of the fourth inning. Two runs in the top of the fifth allowed the Saints to seize game one by a score of 13-2 in five innings.

Sydney Elkin dropped to 5-10 on the year, suffering the loss. She pitched 1 2/3 innings while giving up eight runs.

GAME TWO

The Saints were at it again in game two, dropping a two-spot in the first inning to jump ahead. Mars Hill came back in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs to knot the game at 2-all following back-to-back hits by Ellen Tillman and Ally Sherman.

Limestone went three-up, three-down in the third and Mars Hill capitalized by putting up a 10-spot to take a commanding 12-2 lead. At one point in the inning 11 consecutive batters reached safely for the Lions. Kayleigh Jonas and Taylor Lail both collected two hits apiece in the inning. The 10 runs scored are a season-high for the Lions. A total of six batters contributed a RBI in the offensive explosion.

LC added a single run in the fifth, but could get no closer as starting pitcher Shelby Culler nailed down the win, pitching all five innings while allowing three runs on five hits.

Mars Hill softball will be back in action on Wednesday, April 20 as they host Lincoln Memorial in a pivotal South Atlantic Conference matchup. The Lions currently trail the Railsplitters by one game in the standings heading into the final week of the regular season. First pitch from Ponder Field is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.