MARS HILL, N.C. --- Zach Weaver's two-run double in the fourth inning proved to be the game-winner as Mars Hill edged visiting Tusculum 6-5 Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference baseball contest at Henderson Field.
The Lions (16-24) avenged last week's 13-4 loss to the Pioneers (16-23) which was played in Greeneville.
Mars Hill scored three runs in the first inning thanks to three hits and three walks including RBI singles by Kyle Jenkins and Chad Sikes.
The Pioneers answered with four runs in the second inning, all coming on Kyle Williams' grand slam to left field for a 4-3 TU lead.
MHU tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second as back-to-back two-out walks to Tyler Lala and Weaver which was followed by a RBI double off the bat of Jenkins.
The score would remain that way until the bottom of the fourth when Trey Putnam and Lala got aboard on consecutive singles and both crossed the plate on Weaver's one-out double.
The Pioneers loaded the bases again in the sixth inning with one out, but MHU reliever Cody Bruns got out of the jam with an inning-ending double play.
TU pulled to within a run (6-5) in the eighth inning when Christian Ortega belted his seventh homer of the season, a solo shot to left field. Tusculum loaded the bases for a third time in the game when Jaden Steagall and Luis Ezra drew consecutive two-out walks and Connor Jurek was hit by a pitch. Barrett Williams took over on the mound and got Williams to fly out to end the inning.
The Pioneers got the tying run aboard in the ninth inning on a Rudy Fernandez one-out single. But Barrett Williams closed out the game with a pair of pop ups for the win.
Bruns (1-1) notched the victory for the Lions as he went 2.2 innings, allowed one run on three hits, three walks and two strikeouts. Barrett Williams earned his first save of the year with 1.1 shutout innings.
TU pitcher Jonathan Nelson (0-1) had the loss. Reliever Brady Salyards held the Lions in check in his 4.0 shutout innings where he allowed one hit, one walk and five strikeouts.
Both teams posted eight hits apiece as Oretga and Steagall posted two hits apiece, while MHU had Jenkins and Jordan Lathe with two hits each, while Lala scored three runs in the win.
Tusculum returns home this weekend when they host defending NCAA Division II national champion Wingate for a three-game series beginning with Friday's 6 p.m. contest at Pioneer Park.
