Friday, April 18, 2008

MARS HILL ELIMINATES TUSCULUM SOFTBALL 6-0, PIONEERS END SEASON WITH 19-24 RECORD

NEWBERRY, S.C. --- Tara West tossed a two-hit shutout as fifth-seeded Mars Hill defeated No. 8 Tusculum 6-0 in an elimination game of the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament, held Friday at Newberry High School. The eight-team, double elimination tournament is being hosted this week by Newberry College.

West struck out six Pioneers en route to her 11^th win of the season.

Mars Hill got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the third as Ashley Angell hit a RBI single to drive in Tiara Mitchell and make the score 1-0.

The Lions extended their lead in the next inning with an Ashley Seawell single followed by an Ashley Harbor RBI double to left center to make the score 2-0.

Mars Hill continued to add to its lead in the bottom of the fifth with a RBI single by SAC Freshman of the Year Natalie Haithcox.

In the bottom of the sixth the Lions put three more runs on the scoreboard to provide the final margin.? Harber and Mitchell recorded back-to-back doubles to lead off the frame.? Rebekah Huff then singled to left field and stole second before Angell reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, which scored Huff and Mitchell.? A Kristina Osborn single through the left side put runners on first and second but Haithcox grounded out to end the threat.

West retired the side in order in the seventh to secure her fourth complete game of the season.

Tusculum senior Megan DuBois was charged with the loss after giving up six runs on 12 hits in her complete game effort.

Makenzie Loy picked up both hits for Tusculum as the Pioneers finished their season with a 19-24 record.

- TC