Mars Hill opens season with split at Valkyrie Classic
Lions shutout Lynn, fall to Clark Atlanta in extras.
Team Stats
Lynn
Clark Atlanta
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (1-1) split their Friday slate, kicking off the 2026 season at the Valkyrie Classic, hosted by Converse University.
Mars Hill shut out Lynn in game one (8-0), but dropped the extra innings second game versus Clark Atlanta (10-9 in nine innings).
GAME ONE: MHU 8, LU 0
The Lions' even-inning offense propelled them to a season-opening win over Lynn. In the top of the second, Sadie Cecil's RBI double opened the scoring. Brooke Hanson, later in the frame, singled to center to plate Cecil to put the Lions up 2-0. Bri Weimer concluded the scoring with a RBI single up the middle.
Weimer collected her second RBI of the contest in the fourth with a double to center field and was later plated off of Maia Sholter's RBI single up the middle.
In the top of the sixth, Cecil's RBI groundout put the Lions up 6-0, with Weimer scoring her second run of the game. Leah Grimes' two-run single down the right field line padded the lead to eight runs.
Grimes and Sydney Hodges led all players with three hits apiece while the trio of Weimer, Cecil, and Grimes led all players with two RBI.
Kamryn Akins, in her Lions' debut, was dominant on the mound, striking out eight and allowing just four hits for the complete game shutout.
GAME TWO: CAU 10, MHU 9 - 9 Innings
Despite clawing back into the contest in the bottom of the sixth, the Lions were ultimately felled in their second game of the day versus Clark Atlanta.
The Panthers plated two in the top of the ninth to go up 10-8. Leah Grimes' RBI single cut the deficit to one, but the comeback bid fell just short.
Grimes led all players with four RBI while she, Bri Weimer, and Camryn Sterling led the team with two hits apiece. Linde Cline reached base on four occasions, drawing a game-high three walks.
Mars Hill returns to the diamond on Tuesday, February 3 when they face Belmont Abbey on the road. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
