Walkoff grand slam leads Lions to home-opening win over King
Max LaLime's ninth inning grand slam completed Lions' comeback in first home game of 2025.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (2-3) defeated King (0-4) by a score of 13-11 Wednesday afternoon at Henderson Field in their home opener.
King led 11-9 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Both Elec Yount and Chapel Matson drew walks to get on base. Pinch hitter Alejandro Aguilar was later hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Max LaLime, on the first pitch he saw of the at-bat, blasted an opposite field shot over the fence in left center field to complete the comeback and win the home opener.
King's offense jumped out to a hot start, leading 7-0 heading into the bottom of the second. Jackson Jones' two-run single put Mars Hill on the board. Later in the inning, Yount drove home Caleb Smith with a RBI single to pull within four.
Carter Potts brought the Lions within one in the bottom of the fourth, launching a three-run home run to trail 7-6 after four. Walker Fox's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth tied the contest at seven and later in the stanza, Davis Anders' sacrifice fly saw Fox cross home to give the Lions' their first lead of the game.
The Tornado responded in the top of the sixth as Truman Roper hit a two-run home run to retake the lead, 9-8. In the bottom of the inning, Fox's RBI double plated Evan Grant to tie the game at nine.
With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Roper was plunked at the plate, allowing the go-ahead run to cross home. In the top of the ninth, a bunt single from Patrick Corley plated Jose Ruiz to put King up by two.
Jones led the Lions with three hits while LaLime led all players with four RBI. Fox, Young, Potts, Anders, and LaLime each had multi-hit games.
Dylan Vega was credited with the win, throwing one inning and striking out two.
Mars Hill hosts Concord on Saturday, February 8 at 2 p.m. at Henderson Field, opening up a two-day, three-game series.
