April 9, 2009

HARROGATE, Tenn. - Ashley Harber (Goose Creek, S.C.) went 3-6 at the plate with one homerun and five RBI, and Tara West (Urbana, Ohio) posted a complete game shutout to give the Mars Hill softball team a doubleheader sweep of Lincoln Memorial Thursday afternoon. The Lions knocked off the Lady Railsplitters 9-4 and 1-0. Mars Hill is now 23-15 overall and 9-3 in the SAC. Lincoln Memorial falls to 15-21 overall and 2-10 in the SAC.

Mars Hill took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) reached on fielder's choice via a bunt and scored teammate Jenny Hoyt (Rose Hill, Kan.).

The Lady Railsplitters battled back in the bottom of the inning. Bridget Eicher nailed a three-run blast to center field as Lincoln Memorial took a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Lions erupted for four runs. Following a triple to center field by Rebekah Huff (Mars Hill, N.C.), Angell hit a RBI single to the shortstop to cut the deficit to one run. Later in the inning, Harber hit a three-run shot to left center to put Mars Hill back on top 5-3.

In the fifth inning, the Lions struck again, this time on a sacrifice fly to right field by Harber. Shortly there after, Harber crossed the plate in a double steal, and Mars Hill had a 7-3 advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lady Railsplitters tried to mount a comeback. Despite Ashley Knight's ground out to second base, teammate Sara Henn was able to cross the plate to cut into the Mars Hill lead to make it a 7-4 game. However, Lincoln Memorial would get no closer.

In the seventh inning, Mars Hill added two insurance runs on RBI singles by Ashley Seawell (Asheboro, N.C.) and Harber to take a five run lead. The Lions closed the door on the Lady Railsplitters in the bottom of the inning, stopping the comeback effort despite two runners on base.

Tiffany Farthing (Kure Beach, N.C.), now 8-3, picked up the win for Mars Hill. Farthing pitched three innings, allowed three hits, three runs with two earned, one walk and had one strikeout.

Lincoln Memorial's Brittany Stuive, now 8-7, suffered the loss. Stuive lasted only three innings and allowed 11 hits, five runs and one walk.

The second game was a defensive struggle. The only run of the game came in the top of the sixth inning when Seawell hit a RBI single through the left side to score Angell from third base.

West picked up the win to improve her personal record to 9-8 on the season. West allowed only three hits with no damage while walking five and striking out five.

Lincoln Memorial's Kris Landenburg got the loss to fall to 0-6 on the season. Landenburg gave up six hits, one run and a walk.

Mars Hill will host No. 12-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne for a doubleheader Monday. First pitch from Ponder Park is set for 2 p.m.

Boxscore...

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