April 4, 2009

HICKORY, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (22-18 overall, 10-8 SAC) swept a doubleheader from No. 21-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University (22-13 overall, 8-5 SAC), 13-9 and 14-3, Saturday afternoon at Bears Field. With the victory Friday night, the Lions also swept the three-game SAC weekend series against the Bears. 

Mars Hill won game one on the strength of four homeruns, including two by Brian Williams (Orlando, Fla.), who finished with three hits and three runs batted in.

Williams' two-run round-tripper in the first inning staked Mars Hill to a 2-0 advantage, but Lenoir-Rhyne responded with five straight runs for a 5-2 lead after four innings of play, highlighted by senior first baseman Zach Glass' (Salisbury, N.C.) two-run double in the third.

However, Mars Hill then reeled off 11 straight runs that included Devin Presnell's (Boone, N.C.) three-run homerun which tied the game at five in the top of the fifth inning. A six-run seventh inning by the Lions put the contest away.

Presnell drove in a game-high four runs while Patrick Davidson (Swannanoa, N.C.) added three RBI, all in the seventh inning, to lead Mars Hill.

Glass (three RBI) and sophomore first baseman Anthony Sully (Charlotte, N.C.), who finished with two hits and two RBI, led the Bears offensively.

Mars Hill's Matt Dameron (Mount Holly, N.C.) improved to 3-0 with the win while Lenoir Rhyne junior Chris Henderson (Lincolnton, N.C.), now 5-1, suffered his first loss of the year.

In game two, Presnell hit for the cycle and finished four-for-five with five RBI to help Mars Hill complete the sweep.

Mars Hill took control early again with three runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Brandon Savoca's (Riegelwood, N.C.) two-run triple.

After the Bears cut the margin to 4-2 on junior outfielder Max Loveland's (Bradenton, Fla.) sacrifice fly in the third, the Lions broke the game open with five runs in the top of the fourth inning thanks to Presnell's second three-run home run of the game for a 9-2 lead.

Presnell added a two-run triple in the sixth inning as Mars Hill fashioned a second five-run frame that rounded out the scoring.

Savoca finished five-for-five, while Matt Oleski (West Seneca, N.Y.) added four hits and three runs batted in to lead Mars Hill's 22-hit attack.

For Lenoir-Rhyne, Loveland drove in two runs and sophomore catcher Brian Dice (Hickory, N.C.) hit his team-leading sixth home run of the year in the losing effort.

Justin Hall (Martinsville, Va.) pitched his second complete game of the year and improved to 4-2 on the season, while sophomore Will Moseley (Shreveport, La.), now 3-2, was tagged with the loss.

Mars Hill will play at Bluefield State in a doubleheader on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.

Boxscore...

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