March 24, 2009

MARS HILL, N.C. - Ashley Harber (Goose Creek, S.C.) belted two homeruns and had seven RBI on Tuesday as Mars Hill swept a doubleheader from Carson-Newman at Ponder Park. The Lions won the first game 7-2 and the second game 6-4. Mars Hill improves to 13-13 overall and 2-2 in the SAC. The Eagles drop to 16-12 overall and 0-4 in the SAC.

Mars Hill got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Anna James (Bellevue, Wash.) singled through the left side, scoring Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

Carson-Newman tied the game in the top of the second inning. Sarah Little (Calhoun, Ga.) hit a solo shot off Tiffany Farthing (Kure Beach, N.C.) to get the Eagles on the board.

After the Eagles took a 2-1 lead off an RBI double by Jessie Howard (Knoxville, Tenn.) in the top of the fifth inning, the Lions exploded for four runs in the bottom half of the frame. After three consecutive singles, Harber crushed a grand slam to give Mars Hill a 5-2 advantage.

The Lions added two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Back-to-back singles by Angell and Ashley Seawell (Asheboro, N.C.) scored Hayley Brannon (Spartanburg, S.C.) and Jenny Hoyt (Rose Hill, Kan.) to give Mars Hill a five run cushion.

Farthing, now 4-2, picked up the victory for Mars Hill in game one. She tossed a complete game, allowing only two runs on seven hits while striking out five batters.

Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.), now 11-8, dropped the first game for Carson-Newman. She pitched a complete game but allowed seven runs on 11 hits and walked four batters.

The Eagles scored first in game two in the top of the second inning. A Little double through the left side plated Brianne Coon (Orlando, Fla.) and Amber Palmer (Kennesaw, Ga.) to give Carson-Newman an early 2-0 advantage.

The Lions responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Back-to-back hits by Hoyt and Lindsey Barrier (Salisbury, N.C.) scored Harber and Tara West (Urbana, Ohio) to knot the game at two runs a piece.

Harber then untied the game in the bottom of the third inning with a three-run homerun. Her longshot off Brittany Linton (Marietta, Ga.) gave Mars Hill a 5-2 lead.

A James' single to right field, which brought home Angell, in the bottom of the fourth inning gave the Lions a four run advantage, but Carson-Newman would not go away.

Whitney Durham (Rossville, Ga.) and Shealy led off the sixth inning with back-to-back solo homeruns to cut the deficit to 6-4. However, Paige Brantley (Raleigh, N.C.) induced six consecutive outs to end the game.

Brantley, now 3-4, won game two for Mars Hill. She pitched a complete game and allowed four runs on five hits while striking out six batters.

Linton, now 4-2, lost game two for Carson-Newman. She surrendered five runs on eight hits in only three innings of work.

Mars Hill will travel to Lees-McRae for a doubleheader Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Boxscore...

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