NEWBERRY, S.C. – Newberry College seniors Amanda Budka (Scotia, N.Y.) and Kayce McLeod (Newberry, S.C.) celebrated Senior Day in fine fashion, helping Newberry to a 5-4 victory over Mars Hill College in game one of a doubleheader.  Budka hit a two-run homer to drive in McLeod, while McLeod picked up her sixth win of the season.

Mars Hill’s Tessa Ashwell (Roanoke, Va.) was the hero for the Lions in game two, tattooing two solo shots over the center field wall to win a 6-4 contest for the visitors.  Ashwell also blasted a two-run longball in game one, going four-for-seven on the day with six runs batted in.

Newberry struck in its halves of the second and third innings, using two-run home runs from Budka in the second and Sarah Lynch (Pompano Beach, Fla.) in the third to build a 4-0 lead and to chase MCH starting pitcher Kristi Marszalec (West Bloomfield, Mich.) from the mound.

Mars Hill cut the margin to one run in the top of the fourth, using a single from Courtney Kline (Hudson, Fla.), an Indian error, and Ashwell’s home run to score three.  Newberry’s Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) doubled down the third base line to drive in Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.), giving the hosts a 5-3 lead. 

The Lions came as close as 5-4 with Kline’s triple followed by Kelly Osborn’s (Birmingham, Ala.) sac fly in the sixth, but McLeod allowed only one more hit to preserve the win.  McLeod improved to 6-10 on the season, and Marszalec dropped to 10-11.

It was Newberry that had to play uphill in game two, as seven of the first eight Lion batters reached base.  Ashwell and Tiffany Self (Del Rio, Tenn.) each doubled, allowing three runs to score, followed by a Felicia Holder (Spruce Pine, N.C.) RBI single.  McLeod was called on in relief and dried up the Lion offense for the moment.

In the bottom of the first, Kirby sacrificed to bring home Lindler after a Lynch double to left.  The Lady Indians struck again in the third, as Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) and Lindler singled and then executed a double steal to enter scoring position.  Kirby paid dividends again, this time with a two-out single up the middle to score both runners.

Up 4-3 entering the fifth, Mars Hill relied on Ashwell for her second home run, a leadoff dinger that would prove to be the game winner.  Newberry’s Rebecca Backman (Columbia, S.C.) brought the home team to within one run again with a RBI single to score Lynch, but Ashwell produced another leadoff homer in the seventh for insurance.

Kirby (10-12) was tagged with the loss, getting only one out while allowing six hits and four runs.  MHC’s Lyn Loomis (Ocean Isle, N.C.) moved to 8-12 with the win, and Marszalec was awarded her second save of 2005.

Newberry faces yet another conference foe, Lenoir-Rhyne, Wednesday at 2:30 at the Newberry softball complex.  Mars Hill hosts Brevard College tomorrow at 3 p.m.