Mars Hill splits with Catawba on Senior Day
The Mars Hill softball team (22-17, 6-10 SAC) split with Catawba (22-17, 9-7 SAC) on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Ponder Field. The Lions took game one by a score of 9-1, but fell in game two, 8-3.
MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill softball team (22-17, 6-10 SAC) split with Catawba (22-17, 9-7 SAC) on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Ponder Field. The Lions took game one by a score of 9-1, but fell in game two, 8-3.
GAME ONE: MHU 9, CAT 1
The Lions' offense used a six-run second inning to propel them to victory in game one versus Catawba Saturday afternoon.
With the bases loaded and leading 3-0, Casey Stanek's two-run single up the middle plated both Ashley Evans and Cassidy Allen. Following a walk to Hannah Smith, Jordan Harris blasted her 13th home run of the season, a grand slam that put the Lions up 9-0 entering the third.
In the top of the fourth, the Indians broke the shutout bid as two Lions' errors allowed the pinch running A'Yonna Waddell to cross home.
Mars Hill went up 3-0 after the first inning of play off of a Smith three-run home run.
Smith led the Lions with two hits and three RBI while Stanek added two hits and two RBI.
Stanek picked up her 14th win of the season, allowing one run on five hits while striking out three. Preston Ellenberg suffered the loss, allowing three runs on two hits in 0.2 innings pitched.
GAME TWO: CAT 8, MHU 3
Ragan Broome's two home runs accounted for all three Lions' runs in game two of the Senior Day doubleheader versus Catawba.
The Indians jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after the top half of the first inning. Following a bases loaded walk, Leah Huggins single to right field plated Jordan Dean to put Catawba up 2-0. Allie Baker's two-run double extended the lead to four and was followed up by a RBI groundout off of the bat of Sierrah McCarthy to cap off the inning.
Broome drilled her first home run of the game in the bottom half of the first, launching it over the left center field fence.
Huggins collected her second RBI of the game with a solo home run that rang off the left field post to put the Indians up 6-1. Kaylee Cook, in the top of the fifth, drove home Baker with an infield single.
Broome cut the deficit to four with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth for her 11th of the season.
The trio of Cook, Dean and Huggins each had two hits for Catawba while Baker and Huggins had two RBI apiece. Jordan Harris, along with Broome, had a team-high two hits for the Lions.
Brooke Walser allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out seven for the complete game victory.
Prior to the start of the contest, six Lions were honored as part of Senior Day. Krista Romine, Ragan Broome, Jordan Harris, Addison Harris, Christiana Marasa and Casey Stanek were all recognized for their commitment and contributions to the Mars Hill softball program.
The Lions wrap up their 2019 home schedule on Tuesday, April 16th when they host the Eagles of Carson-Newman. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
