Mars Hill, N.C. – The Brevard College women’s softball team was on the road at Mars Hill, N.C. on Saturday afternoon, as the Tornados fell in both games of the double-header versus the Lions at Ponder Park. The Lions won the first game 10-4 and then won the second game, 14-2. Mars Hill improved to 32-9 overall while with the two losses the Tornados fall to 8-14 on the season.

 

 

In the first game, the Lions of Mars Hill scored nine of their 10 runs in the first two innings, leading the entire way for the 10-4 win.

 

The Lions jumped ahead by pushing across five runs in the bottom of the first on six hits highlighted by a two-RBI double from first-baseman Ashley Seawell.

 

However, the Tornados got three runs back in the top of the second by way of a Sarah Carlos three-run homerun, cutting the Lions lead to 5-3.

 

Yet the Lions pulled away again in the bottom of the second, as the home team scored four runs on five more hits, as short-stop Ashley Harbor had a three-run homerun of her own to help push the Lions advantage to six at 9-3.

 

The Tornados added a run late by way of Lindsey Morgan RBI single, but it wasn’t enough as the Lions held on for the 10-4 win.

 

The loss went to BC’s Jennifer Gift (5-8), as Gift suffered her worst outing on the season allowing nine runs on ten hits in 1.1 innings of work.

 

The Lions Paige Brantley (9-3) picked up the win in relief, as she entered the game in the second inning. Brantley gave up one run, which was unearned, on four hits while striking out seven in 5.2 innings.

 

At the plate, the Tornados were led by Katie Brown, who was 2-3 a double and a run scored. Carlos was 1-3 with a three-run homerun and two runs scored, while Morgan was 1-3 with an RBI.

 

For the Lions, Seawell was 4-4 with a double and two RBI’s, while Kristina Osborn was 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Harber was 3-4 with a three-run homerun, a double, four total RBI’s and two runs scored.

 

 

Again the Tornados fell victim to two big scoring innings by the Lions, falling in game two of the double-header 14-2 in five innings.

 

The Lions jumped out to a 12-0 lead on the Tornados, scoring four runs in the second and eight runs in the bottom half of the third.

 

In the second, the Lions plated four runs on six hits highlighted by a two-RBI single from Seawell. Mars Hill then put the game away in the third inning scoring eight runs on eight hits. Centerfielder Natalie Haithcox hit a grand slam in the inning to account for half of the runs scored in the frame and put the Lions up 12-0 after three.

 

The Lions added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth by way of a Jade Bullins two-run homer to end the Lions scoring at 14 runs.

 

With the game out of reach, the Tornados scored two runs in the top of the fifth on sophomore Jennifer Brown’s two-run home run to spoil the shutout for the Lions.

 

The win went to the Lions Tara West (10-3) who went all five innings allowing two runs on five hits while striking out eight Tornado hitters.

 

Senior Aimee Rogers (3-6) picked up the loss, as Rogers allowed six runs on eight hits in two innings of work.

 

BC’s Jennifer Brown was 1-3 with a two-run homerun, while her sister was 1-1 with a base-on-balls.

 

For Mars Hill, Haithcox and Seawell were perfect at the plate to lead the Lions offensively. The duo went 3-3 with four RBI apiece. Haithcox included a pair of doubles.

 

The Tornados (8-14) will not have long to rest, as BC hits the road again tomorrow afternoon, when they will take on Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, N.C. The double-header which is a make-up game due to an earlier season rain out is slated for a 1 p.m. start-time.

 

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