MARS HILL, N.C. – The Newberry Lady Indians split a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader at Mars Hill College this afternoon at Ponder Park.  Newberry recorded 13 hits en route to a 6-2 game one win, but the Lions bounced back for the split, taking game two 3-0.  The Lady Indians move to 15-26-1 overall and 1-5 in the SAC, while Mars Hill is now 17-26 on the season and 1-5 in league play.

"We came out fighting in the first game, but we definitely lacked that fight and intensity in the second game," stated head coach Joe Elston.  "The effort wasn't quite there in game two."

Newberry got on the board first in game one when Jenny Raines (Blythewood, S.C.) singled up the middle to plate Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) in the second inning.  MHC tied the contest in the bottom half of the second inning after Tiara Mitchell (North Charleston, S.C.) singled to drive in Tiffany Self (Del Rio, Tenn.).

Newberry broke the game open in the fifth inning scoring four runs on six hits and one Lion error.  Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) hit a two-run homer and Ashley Marine (Peachtree City, Ga.) hit a two-RBI double to account for the runs.

NC added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Sarah Lynch (Pompano Beach, Fla.) singled to score Ashleigh Anderson (Barnwell, S.C.).  The Lions scored their final run in the bottom of the seventh after Carissa Rice (Weaverville, N.C.) singled up the middle to score Lyn Loomis (Ocean Isle, N.C.) who reached base earlier by hitting a double to center.

Kirby led NC going 2-for-4 with the two-RBI homerun.  Marine also posted two RBI and a couple of hits for the Indians.  Kirby picked up the win (8-12) on the mound for NC throwing a complete game scattering 10 hits and striking out four batters.

Self and Mitchell each had two hits to lead MHC.  Katie Bryden (B.C., Canada) took the loss (8-12) on the mound for MHC.

MHC was able to avenge the earlier loss in game two as Katie Blankenship (Candler, N.C.) threw a two-hit, complete game shutout to lead the Lions to victory.

Self gave MHC a 1-0 lead in the first when she singled to score Jenna Pender (Hanahan, S.C.).  Self was also responsible for the Lions' second run of the contest when she doubled to left-center in the third frame to drive in Felicia Holder (Spruce Pine, N.C.).  MHC scored their final run in the fifth inning when Bryden singled to plate Pender.

Holder, Pender, Self and Ashley Harber (Goose Creek, S.C.) recorded two hits a piece in the win, while Self also had two RBI.  Blankenship struck out two batters in the win (6-8) while only facing 23 batters in seven innings of work.

Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) and Kirby had the two singles for the Indians.  McKenzie Phillips (Wallace, N.C.) took the loss (6-10) for NC on the hill.

Newberry will travel to Lenoir-Rhyne College on April 5 for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader, while MHC will play at Tusculum College on April 4.  First pitch is set for 2 p.m.