Friday, April 20, 2007                      

 #7 Mars Hill Stays Alive In 2007 Food Lion SAC Softball Tournament

CLINTON, S.C. – Seventh-seeded Mars Hill stayed alive in the 2007 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament with a 5-4 victory over sixth-seeded Newberry on Friday afternoon at the PC Softball Complex. The loss eliminates Newberry (34-25-1) from the competition, ending the Lady Indians’ 2007 season.

Mars Hill advances in the loser’s bracket and will next face off against fourth-seeded Presbyterian at 2 p.m. on Friday. The Lady Blue Hose fell 2-1 to top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne in eight innings to fall into the loser’s bracket.

Mars Hill (33-21) only had five hits in the game, but capitalized on four Newberry errors in the game, including three in the first inning, to claim the victory.

The Lions scored the eventual game-winning run in the third inning when Katie Bryden (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) tripled in Ashley Harber (Goose Creek, S.C.) who had reached base on a walk.

Bryden was the only Mars Hill player to conclude their efforts in the contest with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

All-SAC second team selection Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.) led the Lady Indians with two hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Teammate Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) had two hits and an RBI.

Paige Brantley (Raleigh, N.C.) tallied the win in the circle for the Lions, pitching six strong innings for MHC and striking out two. Katie Blankenship (Candler, N.C.) acquired the save by pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

Stephanie Monette (Conway, S.C.) ends her season in the circle for the Lady Indians with a record of 16-12 with the loss to Mars Hill.