MHU splits with No. 18 Lenoir-Rhyne
Kamryn Akins ties school record with fifth shutout of season.
Team Stats
Mars Hill
Lenoir-Rhyne
Game 2
Lenoir-Rhyne
HICKORY, N.C. - The Mars Hill softball team (28-14, 9-9 SAC) split with No. 18 Lenoir-Rhyne (31-11, 15-3 SAC), shutting the Bears out in game one, but falling in game two.
GAME ONE: MHU 5, L-R 0
Kamryn Akins threw a scoreless gem for her MHU record-tying fifth shutout of the season, handing the Bears just their third South Atlantic Conference loss of the year. She struck out five, allowing just four hits on the afternoon. Akins secured her 14th win of the campaign, one off from tying the single-season record for most by a Lion.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Lions plated five in the third. A double steal by the Lions saw Daci Sarver score the opening run. The trio of Maia Sholter, Sydney Hodges, and Leah Grimes each recorded RBI singles in the frame. Capping off the scoring was Camryn Sterling. With the bases loaded, Sterling was hit by an errant pitch, allowing Olivia McCroan to score the Lions' fifth run of the frame.
Brooke Hanson led all players with three hits while Sholter, Hodges, and Grimes added the other three for the Lions.
GAME TWO: L-R 5, MHU 3
The Bears responded in game two, earning the split.
Entering the bottom of the third tied at two, Lani Warren's solo home run on the second pitch she saw put the Bears back in the lead. In the fourth, the Bears added two more runs, highlighted by Ryleigh Pinnix's solo home run to left.
The Lions, down three, pulled to within two off of Leah Grimes' RBI groundout in the top of the seventh.
Lenoir-Rhyne plated a run apiece in the first and second innings. In the top of the third, Jessica Senn tied the game at two with a two-run single to right, scoring Bri Weimer and Sadie Cecil.
Senn led the Lions with two hits and two RBI. The quartet of Warren, Pinnix, Madison Primm, and Adriana Lamantia led Lenoir-Rhyne with two hits apiece.
Mars Hill closes out their home slate on Saturday, April 18 when they host Wingate. Senior Day first pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Ponder Field.
