PEMBROKE - Visiting Mars Hill put up five runs in the first inning and another in the seventh for the 6-3 victory over the UNCP softball team in the second game of the doubleheader to split the series on Sunday with the Lady Braves at LRA Field.

The Lions (6-4) recorded 16 hits compared to UNCP's (8-11) six as junior Taylor Cloninger led the Lady Braves with two hits, while Kaytee Wilson, Holly Berry, Megan Hillard and Sequoia Barrett added one hit each. Ashley McCurry totaled three hits for Mars Hill, while five other athletes had two hits apiece.

Junior Natalie Klemann spent 6-1/3 innings after relieving junior Katy Austin (2-2) who went 2/3 innings and gave up five earned runs on five hits. Klemann allowed 11 hits and one unearned run, but struck out three of the 32 batters faced. Mars Hill's Taylor Hussey (3-0) completed six innings and gave up all six hits and three earned runs before Allie Carrigan grabbed the save after spending the final inning in the middle.

The Lady Braves faced 10 batters in the first inning as the Lions collected five runs on seven hits. UNCP added one run in the bottom of the first as Cloninger beat the throw by the second baseman to tag first base. The designated player was moved around the bases on a single and sacrifice bunt before crossing home plate on a sacrifice fly by catcher Brea Hartley.

UNCP notched another run in the third inning as Kaytee Wilson reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Berry's double to left center. In the fourth, the Black and Gold cut the Lions' lead to two runs as Hillard singled to the shortstop and scored on Barrett's single up the middle.

The Lions secured the three-run victory after their final run in the seventh as Brittany Gibson reached on an error and scored on McCurry's triple to right center.

The Lady Braves will make a quick turn around and travel to Murfreesboro on Monday to take on Chowan (2-8) in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.

To watch the full game click HERE.