Lions and Tigers Split Doubleheader
February 17, 2012MARS HILL, N.C.—After dropping the first game 6-1, Salem International rallied late in game two to earn a 4-3 victory and a series split with Mars Hill at Ponder Park Friday afternoon. Mars Hill is now 6-6 on the season, while Salem International is 5-1.
Taylor Hussey and Sarah Kruysman combined to shut down the Salem International bats in game one, while Tigers pitcher Katie Mangold returned the favor in game two. Kayla Guta’s RBI double gave Salem International the lead in the top of the seventh in game two. Taylor Jordan homered and drove in four runs in game one for the Lions.
Game One
Offensively, Mars Hill was paced by Jordan’s homer and four RBI’s, and the Lions’ pitching staff did the rest to earn the 6-1 victory.
Salem International struck first on a solo homer by Hayley Wilson to take a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first. However, Mars Hill responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the inning. Robyn Stanek plated the first run of the game on an RBI-single to tie the score. Three batters, later, Jordan lined a three-run homer to left to give the Lions a 4-1 lead.
Hussey and Kruysman would make that lead hold up the rest of the way. Hussey went five innings, allowing just two hits and an earned run, striking out two to earn her second victory of the season. Kruysman closed out the game with a pair of shutout innings.
The Lions added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Jordan and an RBI-single by Shaundee Woosley.
Natalie Haithcox had a pair of hits and two runs scored in the game for Mars Hill.
Game Two
After trailing most of the afternoon, the Tigers’ bats awoke to score four runs in the final two innings to earn the 4-3 victory.
Mars Hill struck first, with Haithcox’s RBI-double scoring Stanek to give the Lions a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Megan Arrington added an RBI-single in the bottom of the fourth to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
That lead would hold until Salem International heated up offensively in the final two innings. In the top of the sixth, Jessica Bias cut the lead in half with a solo homer.
A three-run seventh inning completed the Salem International comeback. Back-to-back singles by Nikki Grambo and Angela McGoldrick set the stage for Guta’s RBI-double to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead. A sacrifice fly by Nicole Bylski gave the Tigers an insurance run that would prove big.
The Lions mounted a rally of their own in the bottom of the inning. Stephanie McGrath drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Arrington. An Ashley McCurry single scored McGrath from second to make the score 4-3, but McCurry was thrown out trying to advance to second. A diving stop and throw to fist by Bias on a Stanek liner up the middle snuffed out the Lions rally.
Mangold earned the victory for the Tigers, going the distance and allowing six hits and two earned runs. Taylor Morris pitched a complete game for Mars Hill, allowing seven hits and four earned runs, and striking out eleven.
Mars Hill will be in action again on Saturday, Feb. 18 when they host King as part of the Pink Day event to raise money for Kay Yow Cancer Fund. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
