Lions fall in SAC action versus Lenoir-Rhyne
The Mars Hill softball team (20-11, 4-4 SAC) was swept by Lenoir-Rhyne (22-10, 5-2 SAC) Saturday afternoon at Ponder Field, dropping game one by a score of 7-1 and game two by a score of 10-7 in extra innings.
MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill softball team (20-11, 4-4 SAC) was swept by Lenoir-Rhyne (22-10, 5-2 SAC) Saturday afternoon at Ponder Field, dropping game one by a score of 7-1 and game two by a score of 10-7 in extra innings.
GAME ONE: LR 7, MHU 1
Mars Hill dropped game one versus the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne by a score of 7-1.
The Lions took the 1-0 lead after two innings of play off of Ashley Evans' RBI single that plated Addison Harris. With an opportunity to extend the lead in the second with runners on first and third, the Bears were able to escape the scare, forcing a strikeout.
Back-to-back solo home runs from Savannah Moorefield and Erin Boone provided Lenoir-Rhyne the 2-1 advantage after three. Once again, the Lions had runners on first and third in the bottom of the third but were unable to send a runner across home to tie the game.
Talon LaClair plated Moorefield in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 3-1. The Lions, in the bottom of the sixth, once again were in prime position to knot the game up with runners on second and third with no outs. Lenoir-Rhyne forced three straight outs to enter the seventh with the 3-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh, LaClair hit a two-run double, scoring Moorefield and Cassie Healey to run the lead up to four runs. Kylee Leonhardt's two-run home run to right center field extended the lead to six in the final frame.
LaClair led all players with three hits and three RBI in the game. Addison Harris, Danielle Harris and Krista Romine had a team-high two hits for the Lions.
Brandi Parks earned the win, giving up one run on nine hits in the complete game victory. Casey Stanek suffered the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings pitched.
GAME TWO: LR 10, MHU 7
In the top of the ninth inning, tied at seven, the Bears scored three runs to come away with the 10-7 victory and complete the sweep. A single down the left field line by Macie Gibson scored the game-winning run as Hannah Jennings crossed home. Lenoir-Rhyne, throughout the inning, added two more RBI singles to build a cushion entering the bottom half of the inning.
Mars Hill took the early 1-0 lead off of Ragan Broome's leadoff home run in the first inning. Cassie Healy's RBI single in the top of the second tied the game at one. In the bottom of the third, Jordan Harris launched a three-run home run for her 12th of the year to go up 4-1 entering the fourth.
The Bears responded with a three-run home run of their own in the top of the fifth off of the bat of Leanna Sherrill. In the bottom of the stanza, Christiana Marasa singled to center field and plated Krista Romine for the tying run.
Lenoir-Rhyne took their first lead of the contest in the top of the sixth off of a two-run single from Mackensi Swain. The Lions fought back in the bottom of the frame to tie the game with Maggie Langheim's sacrifice fly that scored Danielle Harris.
Kylee Leonhardt led all players with three hits in the contest while Swain led the Bears with two RBI. Jordan Harris led the Lions with two hits and three RBI.
In a repeat from game one, Brandi Parks was credited with the win while Casey Stanek suffered the loss.
Mars Hill returns to action on Wednesday, April 3rd when they take on Lincoln Memorial on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
