MARS HILL, N.C. --- The Mars Hill College
softball team held Lees-McRae College to one run and 11 hits en
route to a doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon in
non-conference play.
Mars Hill (10-6) pushed across 11 runs on 15 hits on Saturday,
including three extra base hits. The Lions shut out Lees-McRae
(4-9) by a score of 5-0 in game one before registering a 6-1
victory in the nightcap.
Alison Armstrong (Bellingham, Mass.), Karli Robb (Hayes, Va.),
and Jessica Smith (Gastonia, N.C.) each tallied two hits on the day
for the Bobcats, as Smith drove in LMC's lone run of the day.
Laurel Gregg (Mars Hill, N.C.) got the nod in game one, allowing
two runs and surrendering six walks in four innings of work.
Holli Crickenberger (Boydton, Va.) tossed the final two innings
of the opener, allowing three runs on three hits. Crickenberger
took the ball in game two, lasting three innings and surrendering
six runs. Kristen Oakes (Lenoir, N.C.) threw three shutout innings
to wrap the nightcap, allowing three walks and no hits.
Taylor Morris, Megan Arrington, and Robyn Stanek each posted
three hits for Mars Hill, as Stanek scored and drove in four runs,
while launching a home run. Morris drove in a trio of runs, while
Arrington crossed the plate three times for the Lions.
Morris took the ball in game one for the Lions, pitching seven
shutout innings and striking out 10 to earn the victory. Taylor
Hussey got the nod in game two, allowing one run on nine hits in
six innings of work, as Morris tossed a scoreless seventh.
Game One: Mars Hill 5, Lees-McRae 0 (Box Score)
Mars Hill opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, taking
an early 2-0 lead on a two-run shot down the left field line by
Stanek. The Lions would add three runs in the sixth, pushing the
lead to 5-0 on a two-run single by Stanek and a passed ball which
plated Stanek from third.
Game Two: Mars Hill 6, Lees-McRae 1 (Box Score)
The Lions took an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first,
taking a 2-0 advantage on a two-run double by Morris before
Shaundee Woosley plated two with a single to center. Mars Hill
would stretch the margin to 6-0 in the second, plating two on RBI
singles by Natalie Haithcox and Morris.
The Bobcats got on the board with a run in the fifth, trimming
the lead to 6-1 with an RBI single by Smith as part of a four-hit
inning. Hussey and Morris shut the door from there, retiring six of
the final seven batters in the last two innings to preserve the
victory.
Lees-McRae returns to the diamond on Sunday when the Bobcats
travel to Greeneville, Tenn. to take on Shepherd University and
Kentucky Wesleyan College in Tusculum College's Pioneer Classic.
The Bobcats will take the field against Shepherd at 10 a.m.,
followed by a 2 p.m. matchup with Kentucky Wesleyan.
- LMC -
