Mars Hill sweeps Tusculum in pivotal SAC matchup
The Mars Hill softball team (20-9, 4-2 SAC) swept Tusculum (15-11, 3-5 SAC) by scores of 10-8 and 12-4 Wednesday evening at Ponder Field.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (20-9, 4-2 SAC) swept Tusculum (15-11, 3-5 SAC) by scores of 10-8 and 12-4 Wednesday evening at Ponder Field.
GAME ONE: MHU 10, TU 8
The Lions erased a 5-0 deficit to come from behind and defeat the Pioneers by a score of 10-8.
Mars Hill used an eight-run third inning to propel themselves to victory. The scoring started with Hannah Smith's two-run single up the middle with the bases loaded, allowing Shae Condon and Ragan Broome to score. Following Jordan Harris' RBI double that plated Christiana Marasa, the Lions tied the game at six off of Ashley Evans' single to center field.
With the bases still loaded, Taylor Nilsson's sacrifice fly brought home the go-ahead run. Addison Harris capped of the inning with a three-run bomb over the center field fence to give Mars Hill a four-run lead heading into the fourth.
The Pioneers pulled within three in the top of the fourth off of Taylor Johnson's RBI groundout. In the top of the fifth, Taylor Battle's double to left center field scored Brittney Franse for the final Tusculum run of the game.
Tusculum jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after one, highlighted by Johnson's two-run double to right field. Mars Hill cut into the lead in the second inning with two solo home runs from Harris and Krista Romine. The Pioneers reestablished their four-run lead in the top of the third off of Sammie West's RBI single that plated Brittney Franse.
Jordan Harris led the Lions with two hits while adding two RBI. Addison Harris led the team with three RBI while Smith added two.
Christiana Marasa earned her fifth win of the season, allowing three runs on six hits in 6.1 innings pitched. Ashley Scozzari was credited with the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
GAME TWO: MHU 12, TU 4
After Tusculum came back to tie the game in the top of second at four, Mars Hill scored eight unanswered runs to claim the 12-4 win and earn the sweep over the Pioneers.
Addison Harris hit her first home run of the contest, a two-run shot to center field, in the bottom of the second to give Mars Hill the 6-4 lead. In the third, a throwing error allowed Taylor Nilsson to reach first and Ashley Evans to score.
Evans drove in two runs in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run that plated Krista Romine. Harris, in the bottom of the fifth, ended the contest with a three-run blast over the center field fence.
Mars Hill's Maggie Langheim gave the Lions the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a crushed two-run home run to left center field. With the bases loaded later in the frame, Ashley Collins' single to left field plated two more as the Lions went up 4-0 heading into the second.
The Pioneers answered Mars Hill's four runs in the top of the second. With the bases loaded, Emma Casey drew a walk, allowing Anna Alloway to score. A sharply hit ball to second snuck through the infield, allowing two runs to score to cut the deficit to one run. A bloop single from Taylor Battle plated Casey for the fourth and tying run.
Addison Harris led all players with three runs scored and five RBI. Grayson Brown led the Pioneers with two hits.
Casey Stanek picked up her 12th win of the season, giving up five hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Allison Pate suffered the loss, giving up eight runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings thrown.
The Lions return to action on Saturday, March 30th when they host Lenoir-Rhyne. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Ponder Field.
