MARS HILL, N.C. - The Newberry College softball team opened South Atlantic Conference competition by splitting a doubleheader with Mars Hill. Newberry won the low-scoring opener with a 1-0 victory but fell, 8-7, in the exciting eight-inning second game.

Newberry moved to 18-4 (1-1 SAC) while Mars Hill went to 16-5 (1-1 SAC).

Amanda Huckestein (Port Charlotte, Fla.) earned the win in the first game by pitching seven scoreless innings and improved to 10-1 on the season. Chelsie Hilbourn (Loris, S.C.) scored Felicia Taylor (Venice, Fla.) with an RBI single in the fifth inning for the game's only run.

The second game required extra innings before Mars Hill eked out an 8-7 win. The teams carried a 5-5 tie into the eighth inning before Newberry scored two runs through a Huckestein homer. Mars Hill plated three in the bottom half of the inning; however, and came away with the victory.

Game One: Newberry 1, Mars Hill 0 -
Box ScoreNewberry threatened in the top of the first inning after Aissa Gatewood (North Charleston, S.C.) drew a lead-off walk for the scarlet and gray. Felicia Taylor (Venice, Fla.) drew a walk as well and Huckestein moved the runners up to second and third but Newberry couldn't get them any further.

The Lions appeared to get their bats going in the bottom of the second when Anna James (Bellevue, Wash.) led off the inning with a double down the leftfield line. Huckestein prevented any further damage; however, with three consecutive strikeouts.

Newberry loaded the bases in the fourth inning off of two hits and a Lions' fielding error but couldn't plate any runs.

The scarlet and gray finally opened the scoring in the top of the fifth when Taylor walked and Stephanie Blazer (Greenville, S.C.) was hit by a pitch. Hilbourn singled to center to score Taylor from second and put Newberry on top 1-0.

That run proved to be the only one Newberry needed to solidify the win in the opening game of the twinbill. Huckestein went the distance in the game and surrendered just four hits and three walks while striking out 12.

Game Two: Newberry 7, Mars Hill 8, 8 innings -
Box ScoreMars Hill got on the board first in the second game after Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) walked in the bottom of the first inning. Natalie Haithcox (Asheboro, N.C.) singled up the middle later in the inning and Angell came around to score to make it 1-0. The Lions produced four more consecutive singles to plate three more runs and load the bases, making the score 4-0. Huckestein came in to pitch and bailed Newberry out of the four-run, five-hit first inning.

The scarlet and gray answered right back in the top of the second inning, however. Lindsay Cruz (Irmo, S.C.) walked and stole second before Huckestein doubled to deliver the run. Newberry then put two more runners on via hit-by-pitches to load the bases. Chelsea Chipoletti (Brooksville, Fla.) delivered her first home run of the season, a grand slam to left field to clear the bases and put Newberry up 5-4.

Mars Hill evened the score in the bottom half of the second after Angell singled to start off the inning. Angell moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt and later scored on a Newberry throwing error.

Mars Hill had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning after a Newberry throwing error and a double off the bat of Kendra Reeder (Duncan, S.C.) put runners on second and third with one out. Lindsey Barrier (Salisbury, N.C.) dropped a bunt but Newberry catcher Sara Powell (Ocean View, Del.) fielded the ball and made the tag at the plate for the second out. Newberry got the third out through a pop fly to the shortstop and the game extended into extra innings.

The 5-5 tie held until the top of the eighth inning when Huckestein blasted a two-out pitch over the center field fence with a runner aboard to put Newberry on top 7-5.

In the bottom of the eighth, Mars Hill plated a run through an RBI single from Ashley Seawell (Asheboro, N.C.) to make the score 7-6. Haithcox singled in the next at bat to put runners on second and third with two outs before Amanda McArthur (Charlotte, N.C.) doubled to center field to plate the tying and winning runs and earn the Lions the 8-7 victory.

Huckestein was tagged with the loss in the game and fell to 10-2.

Newberry continues SAC competition with a home doubleheader on Wednesday, March 24, against Brevard. The first game is slated for 2 p.m.