Lions walkoff game one, split with Newberry
The Mars Hill softball team (12-18, 3-9 SAC) split with Newberry (18-16, 8-6 SAC), taking game one by a score of 14-13, but falling by a score of 9-7 in game two.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 0 |
| Mars Hill | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 0 |
| Mars Hill | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 2 |
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (12-18, 3-9 SAC) split with Newberry (18-16, 8-6 SAC), taking game one by a score of 14-13, but falling by a score of 9-7 in game two.
GAME 1: MHU 14, NBY 13
Maia Sholter's walkoff three-run home run capped off a Lions' four-run seventh inning to complete the comeback.
Mars Hill trailed 12-6 entering the bottom of the sixth. Payton Little blasted a grand slam over the left center fence to cut the deficit to two. In the top of the seventh, a bases loaded walk put Newberry up by three.
Leah Grimes hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, the catalyst for the comeback.
Farley Park's two-run home run in the bottom of the first opened the scoring. Later in the frame, Little scored off of a double steal attempt.
In the top of the third, a Wolves' two-run home run cut into the Lions' lead. Mars Hill bumped their lead back up to three in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by Park's RBI double that plated Katie Todd. The hit was her 100th of her career.
Newberry took the lead in the sixth, scoring six in the frame, highlighted by Bethany Pigg's grand slam.
Sholter went a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate, recording three RBI. Little led the Lions with four RBI. Park and Little led the team with three runs scored.
Kayla Gallagher earned her fifth win of the season, striking out seven in 5.2 innings thrown.
GAME 2: NBY 9, MHU 7
Newberry used a seven-run fifth inning to take game two and the split.
Trailing 3-2, Vanessa Wilson's RBI groundout kicked off the scoring run, tying the game at three. A pair of RBI doubles and RBI singles ballooned the lead to six.
The Lions attempted a comeback bid in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four. Meghan Murphy's bases loaded single plated Maia Sholter. A pair of walks drawn by Miranda Marks and Leah Grimes pulled the Lions within three. Farley Park plated the final run of the contest with a single to right field, plating Katie Todd.
Leah Grimes opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run. The Wolves responded, plating one run in both the second and third to tie the game at two. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, Jessica Senn plated Park for the Lions to regain the lead.
Grimes led all players with three RBI while Murphy led the team with three hits.
Mars Hill returns to Ponder Field on Saturday, March 30 when they face Montreat in non-conference action. The doubleheader is slated for a 12 p.m. first pitch.
