Southern Wesleyan Sweeps Softball in Season Opener
The Mars Hill softball team was swept by Southern Wesleyan to open the 2015 season, dropping the first game 4-2 while seeing a late rally fall just short in a 6-5 defeat in game two.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team was swept by Southern Wesleyan to open the 2015 season, dropping the first game 4-2 while seeing a late rally fall just short in a 6-5 defeat in the nightcap. Southern Wesleyan improves to 2-2 overall while the Lions drop to 0-2.
Game 1: Southern Wesleyan 4, Mars Hill 2
Lizzie Fela's leadoff home run in the fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Warriors knocked off the Lions in the opening game of the doubleheader.
Taylor Fox reached on an error to start the game and advanced to second on a Alyssa Mendoza single. After a sacrifice advanced the runners, Fela singled up the middle to give Southern Wesleyan a 2-0 lead.
Mars Hill answered in the home half of the inning as Erin Vickery led off with a walk, followed by an Aleshia Peek home run off of the scoreboard in right field to tie the game. The Lions had runners at first and second with one out in the third inning following a Taylor Caviness walk and a Patricia Thompson single, but a flyout and groundout ended the inning.
Fela led off the fourth inning with a home run to center field and the Warriors scored their final run of the game in the fifth on a Sara Sweatt squeeze bunt that plated Fox.
Peek went two-for-three with a single, home run, two RBIs and run scored to lead the Lions. Thompson went one-for-three with a single.
Callie Wayne earned the win as she went the distance, allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Taylor Hussey took the loss as she allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts in three innings.
Game 2: Southern Wesleyan 6, Mars Hill 5
A three-run fifth inning broke a 3-3 tie as Southern Wesleyan held off a late Mars Hill rally to earn a 6-5 victory.
Lizzie Fela's two-out, two-run home run gave the visitors a 2-0 after the top half of the first inning. In the Lions' half of the frame, Taylor Caviness worked a leadoff walk, followed by a Melissa Garcia base hit. After both runners stole a base, Robyn Stanek plated Caviness on a sacrifice fly to cut the Lion deficit in half.
Southern Wesleyan added a run in the third inning on an Ashleigh Wilbur fielder's choice. After Sara Sweatt crossed the plate, Wilbur was called out for running out of the basepath while Fela was thrown out trying to advance to third base.
Mars Hill tied the contest at 3 thanks to a two-out double from Erin Vickery that scored Patricia Thompson and Garcia. Vickery advanced to third on a wild pitch before a strikeout ended the inning.
A Fela double followed by a two-run single by Wilbur gave the Warriors a 6-3 lead heading into the home half of the fifth. Mars Hill loaded the bases and scored a run on a walk, but a fielder's choice, flyout and groundout ended the Lion threat.
The Lions threatened in the sixth inning but Hollie Norris was thrown out trying to steal home on a wild pitch. In the seventh, Ellen Tillman made her first Mars Hill plate appearance one to remember with a line drive home run to center field as the Lions pulled to within a run. Following a groundout, Aleshia Peek was hit by a pitch but a popout and fielder's choice ended the contest.
Garcia went two-for-four with a run scored and two stolen bases, while Vickery went one-for-three with a double and three RBIs. Tillman went one-for-one with a home run. Thompson and Taylor Lail each had a base hit.
Natalie Johnson earned the win, allowing four runs, two earned, on four hits with four walks in four-plus innings of work. Lucy Wolff earned the save, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout in three innings. Chelsea Broughman went the distance for Mars Hill, allowing six runs on seven hits with five walks and nine strikeouts.
Mars Hill returns to action on Tuesday, hosting Milligan at 1 p.m.
