Flynn & Gallagher draw triple short of cycle in Softball’s split at MHU

Mars Hill, N.C. —- The Catawba College softball team tallied 22 hits between two ends of a doubleheader at Mars Hill in South Atlantic Conference action, but settled for a split.

GAME ONE | Catawba 13, Mars Hill 11

TEAM STATISTICS

- Catawba out-hit Mars Hill 17-11

- The Catawba Indians recorded eight of 12 extra-base hits

- The Lions committed three of five errors in the game

- MHU left six runners on base; Catawba stranded eight

- Catawba's starter allowed six earned runs on 11 hits and five walks, striking out two; Mars Hill's starter allowed eight earned runs on 17 hits and one walk, striking out six

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Brianna Gallagher was 4-for-5 with a homer, a double, four RBI and three runs scored

- Grace Flynn also homered and doubled in three hits with three RBI and three runs scored

- Kary Hales went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI

- Christina Brendle and Savanna Balderston added two hits apiece and scored twice

- Kate Holland went the distance, allowing six earned runs to move to 7-5 on the season

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST INNING

- Gallagher hit her SAC-leading 13th home run of the season to center field with two out in the first

- A bases-loaded walk and a sac fly gave Mars Hill the lead in the bottom half, 2-1

SECOND INNING

- Brendle, Balderston and Flynn each drove in a run on a base hit in the second

- Gallagher brought home two on a two-out single to left field to lead 6-2

- Two homers totaling five runs in the bottom half made it a 7-6 lead for the Lions after two

FOURTH INNING

- A two-out Mars Hill error plated another run for Catawba before Hales drove home the go-ahead run on an infield single with two outs

- MHU's Farley Park answered with a two-run homer in the bottom half to lead 9-8

SIXTH INNING

- Hales tied the game with an RBI double to right field in the sixth

SEVENTH INNING

- Flynn hit the go-ahead homer in the top of the seventh on a two-out, two-run blast to center field

- Courtnee Carter provided insurance with another solo shot on the very next batter

- A wild pitch scored one more with Catawba leading 13-9

- Mars Hill drove in two on separate RBI base hits in the bottom half, the latter of which brought the game-winning run to the plate

- Holland forced the flyout to earn the game one win

GAME TWO | Mars Hill 11, Catawba 2 - 5 innings

TEAM STATISTICS

- Mars Hill out-hit Catawba 12-5

- The Lions recorded seven of nine extra-base hits and four of five homers

- MHU committed the lone error of game two

- Mars Hill left two runners on base; Catawba stranded six

- The Lions' starter allowed one earned run on five hits and four walks, striking out three; Catawba's staff allowed 11 runs on 12 hits and two walks, striking out two

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Flynn homered for the second straight game

- Gallagher doubled 

- Hales singled, walked and drove in a run

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST INNING

- A leadoff triple and an RBI single put Mars Hill up early 1-0

SECOND INNING

- Two Mars Hill homers totaled three runs in the second to push the Lion lead to 4-0

THIRD INNING

- Hales got Catawba on the board with a two-out RBI in the third

- Two more homers from the Lions extended their advantage to 6-1

FIFTH INNING

- Flynn added her second homer of the day on a leadoff shot in the fifth

- MHU tacked on five more runs in the fifth to enact the mercy rule

UP NEXT

- Catawba returns to Whitley Field on Saturday, facing 17th-ranked Tusculum for a twinbill at 2 and 4 p.m.