April 3, 2009

HICKORY, N.C. - The Mars Hill College Baseball Team (20-18, 8-8) defeated No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne University (22-11, 8-3), 11-8, in a South Atlantic Conference game Friday night at Bears Field.

Mars Hill’s Brian Williams (Orlando, Fla.) finished with three hits and four runs batted in as the Lions opened the three-game series with a victory.

Mars Hill, who never trailed in the game, jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the first inning on a pair of run-scoring hits from Devin Presnell (Boone, N.C.) and Brandon Savoca (Riegelwood, N.C.).

Williams added an RBI single in third inning and a Lion unearned run in the fourth frame pushed the margin to 4-1 before Lenoir-Rhyne senior first baseman Zach Glass (Salisbury, N.C.) hit his team-tying fifth home run of the season in the Bears’ half of the fourth that cut the lead to 4-2.

Ahead 5-2, Mars Hill opened up the contest with a four-run sixth inning which included an RBI double by Patrick Davidson (Swannanoa, N.C.).

Lenoir-Rhyne tried to rally with two runs in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, highlighted by junior shortstop Alex Cooks’ (Tampa, Fla.) two-run single in the eighth frame, but the Bears fell short.

Williams gave Mars Hill some cushion with a single that plated two in the eighth and Presnell and Corry DiBiase (Orlando, Fla.) each drove in two runs to lead the Lions.

For Lenoir-Rhyne, Cooks led the way with three hits and two RBI while Glass added two hits and two runs batted in and sophomore catcher Brian Dice (Hickory, N.C.) finished with three hits and drove in a run despite the loss.

Mars Hill’s Corey Rau (Tunkhannock, Pa.) improved to 2-2 with the win while L-R senior Greg Conrad (Charlotte, N.C.) fell to 4-3 with the loss.

The two teams will play on Saturday in a doubleheader at Bears Field beginning at 1 p.m.

Boxscore...

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