Lions defeated on road versus Mercy, FMU
The Mars Hill softball team (0-4) dropped both contests versus Mercy (2-1) and Francis Marion (11-1) Saturday evening as part of the FMU Tournament.
FLORENCE, S.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (0-4) dropped both contests versus Mercy (2-1) and Francis Marion (11-1) Saturday evening as part of the FMU Tournament. The Lions dropped game one by a score of 9-5 and game two by a mark of 15-0 in five innings.
GAME ONE: MC 9, MHU 5
A six-run fifth inning for the Mavericks propelled them to their second victory of the season. Two bases loaded walks pulled Mercy within one run. A RBI single from Ylannah Bowman plated Nicole Smart and following a Lions' error, allowed Danielle Burgos to round third and tie the game at five. Sydney Johnston plated the go-ahead and game-winning run with a RBI single to center field, scoring Samantha Franck.
The Mavericks added two more insurance runs in the sixth, highlighted by Franck's RBI single up the middle.
Mars Hill opened the scoring in the second as Danielle Harris scored from a Mercy error. Mercy responded in the bottom half of the inning as Hailey Puglia ripped a RBI double to left center to bring home Arian Ricci.
The Lions plated three runs in the third, all RBI singles. Maggie Langheim, Brookelynn Nanney, and Sydney Craig all earned RBI in the inning. In the fourth, after a failed pickoff attempts, Emiley Burriss crossed home due to a Maverick's throwing error.
Langheim and Craig each recorded two hits for the Lions while Alexis Crawford collected two hits for the Mavericks.
Sabrina Gonzalez earned the win in the complete game effort, allowing five runs on seven hits. Ashley Evans was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in two innings pitched.
GAME TWO: FMU 15, MHU 0
The Patriots of Francis Marion unloaded 12 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to end the contest early, winning their 11th contest of the year by a score of 15-0.
Ashtyn Patterson recorded three RBI in the inning off of a triple and double while Addie May and Carson Shannon each recorded two RBI in the frame.
Shannon opened the scoring in the third inning with a RBI single. She later scored off of Megan Matsil's two-run single up the middle to give the Patriots the 3-0 advantage entering the fourth.
Patterson led all players with three hits while she, Shannon, and Matsil each collected three RBI.
Katelyn Ellard advanced to 6-1 by throwing a no-hitter. Ellard struck out eight in the win. Ashley Collins suffered the loss, allowing 10 runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
The Lions conclude the weekend tournament on Sunday, February 16 when they face Chowan at 12 p.m. and Francis Marion at 2 p.m.
