April 15, 2009

MARS HILL, N.C. - Jade Bullins (Danbury, N.C.) posted career highs with two homeruns and five RBI in one game to highlight Mars Hill's doubleheader sweep of Tusculum Wednesday at Ponder Park. Mars Hill won the first game 7-3 and the second contest 13-2 in five innings. The Lions improve to 25-15 overall and 11-3 in the SAC. The Pioneers fall to 12-28 overall and 3-11 in the SAC.

Before the first game, seniors Ashley Harber (Goose Creek, S.C.) and Jenny Hoyt (Rose Hill, Kan.) were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the Mars Hill softball program.

The Lions kicked off the festivities with a five spot in the first inning of game one. Ashley Seawell (Asheboro, N.C.) first got Mars Hill on the board with a two run double to right center. Later in the inning, Tara West (Urbana, Ohio) singled to right field. Seawell and Harber scored on the play to increase the margin to 4-0. The final run of the inning came when Lindsey Barrier (Salisbury, N.C.) reached base on an error by Phlyscia Powell (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and West crossed the plate.

The Mars Hill advantage swelled to seven runs in the second inning when Seawell jacked a two run shot to right field.

Tusculum tried to rally beginning in the fifth inning. Powell laced a two run double to center field to cut the deficit to five runs. A Jessica McKee (Morganton, N.C.) solo homer in the seventh cut the score to 7-3, but the Pioneers would get no closer.

Tiffany Farthing (Kure Beach, N.C.), now 9-3, picked up the win for Mars Hill with a complete game performance. She gave up three runs on three hits but did not allow a hit before a Mackenzie Loy (Knoxville, Tenn.) single to left field in the fifth inning.

Holli Cadenhead (Van Vleck, Texas), now 7-16, dropped the decision for Tusculum. She surrendered seven runs, four earned, on eight hits in only two innings.

The Pioneers struck first in game two with two runs in the first inning. Cadenhead doubled to right field, scoring Alex Kimbrell (Crossville, Tenn.) to give Tusculum a 1-0 lead. Cadenhead later came across the plate on a Rachel Hopper (Simpsonville, S.C.) RBI single down the left field line.

The Lions answered in the second inning. Bullins hit the first of her two homers, a two run bomb to left field, to tie the game. Mars Hill then took the lead for good when seven consecutive batters reached base before recording an out. Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) singled down the left field line to score Barrier and give the Lions the upper hand, 3-2. The hit parade continued when Harber and Anna James (Bellevue, Wash.) recorded RBI singles to push the margin to three runs. Later in the inning, following two RBI walks, Barrier placed a two run single in left center field to cap the scoring for the inning and give Mars Hill a 9-2 lead.

With the Lions up 10-2 in the third inning, Harber scored on a Hoyt groundout. Two batters later, Bullins took Cadenhead deep with a two run longball to give Mars Hill a commanding 11 run advantage.

Paige Brantley (Raleigh, N.C.), now 7-4, won game two for Mars Hill. She allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in five innings.

Ali Hansen (Parker, Colo.), now 2-7, dropped game two for Tusculum. She gave up nine runs, five earned, on nine hits in only one and two-third innings.

Mars Hill will conclude the regular season Friday with a doubleheader against No. 23-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne. First pitch from Ponder Park is set for 2 p.m.

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