Wingate, N.C.----Mars Hill College junior first baseman Ashley Seawell (Asheboro, N.C.) was three-for-four with a crucial three-run homer and four total RBI as the Lions defeated Wingate University 5-3 in the first round of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference softball tournament at the WU Softball Complex.

The number four seed, Mars Hill improves to 27-14 overall. Number five seed Wingate is 33-14 overall. The MHC Lions play the Lenoir-Rhyne/Catawba winner Friday at Wingate (11:30 a.m. first pitch). The host Bulldogs will face the Lenoir-Rhyne/Catawba loser Friday at 11:30 a.m. The Wingate game will be played at Forest Hills High School in Marshville, N.C. 

Mars Hill scored four runs with two outs in the second inning, thanks to Seawell’s 13th home run of the season. The slugger leads the Lions in home runs and RBI (48). With two down, Wingate junior pitcher Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) hit Mars Hill senior center fielder Lindsey Barrier (Salisbury, N.C.) with a pitch. Lion senior second baseman Rebekah Huff (Mars Hill, N.C.) reached on an error to put runners on first and second.

Barrier and Huff moved up one base on a wild pitch. Mars Hill senior right fielder Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) walked to load the bases. Barrier scored on a wild pitch. Seawell followed by sending a 1-2 pitch over the left-field fence to give the Lions the early advantage. The four second-inning runs were unearned.

Wingate senior shortstop Debra Grijalva (San Jose, Calif.) homered with two outs in the top of the third inning to put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard. Mars Hill got the run back in the home half of the fourth frame. Huff tripled to start the inning. One out later, Seawell singled up the middle to plate Huff.

The Bulldogs did not fold the tents, posting single runs in the sixth and seventh stanzas. Wingate freshman first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) started the Bulldog sixth inning with a double down the left-field line. Junior utility player Jessica McCraw (Waxhaw, N.C.) entered the game to run for Loudermilt.

One out later, McCraw moved to third on a ground out. Wingate senior center fielder LaRonda McClain (Kings Mountain, N.C.) reached on an infield single. McClain moved to second on a throwing error, allowing McCraw to score.

In the Bulldog seventh, Wingate junior left fielder Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) singled up the middle with one out. Bulldog sophomore catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) walked to put runners on first and second. One out later, Loudermilt singled to left center to score Chavis. Wingate had runners on first and second after the Loudermilt hit, but the Bulldogs could not get them home.

Huff supported Seawell’s monster day with a two-for-four effort. She had a triple and two runs scored. The Lions and the Bulldogs stranded 11 runners each during the first-round contest. MHC senior pitcher Tiffany Farthing (Kure Beach, N.C.) earned the complete-game victory. She gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits. Farthing struck out four and walked six.

McClain was three-for-four to lead the Bulldogs. Loudermilt was two-for-four with a double and one RBI. Grijalva and two teammates had one hit each. Blankenship took the tough-luck pitching loss. In 3 2/3 innings, she allowed five runs on seven hits. Blankenship surrendered only one earned run. She struck out three, walked three and hit two batters.