The Belmont Abbey softball team opened the 2011 season with a thrilling 11-10 eight inning win over the visiting Mars Hill Lions, and game two was suspended after three innings due to darkness with the Lions leading 4-0. It was the season opener for both teams.

"Today I was really proud of the girls," Head Coach Ellie Hanover said. "We definitely had our share of mistakes but what is important is that they didn't give up and kept fighting. We hit the ball well and put up 11 runs. That's not bad for this young team. I was very happy with the way some of the freshmen stepped up. Alysia Stewart showed why she is a great captain late in the game today. We have a great foundation to build on this year."

In the opener, Mars Hill jumped ahead 2-0 after one inning, as Amanda McArthur scored on a wild pitch, and Taylor Morris doubled home Ashley Seawell, who singled earlier. Two innings later, the Lions doubled their lead to 4-0 but could have scored more. Mars Hill loaded the bases with nobody out after recording three consecutive singles. After a groundout double play, Morris ripped a single to left, scoring Seawell and Ashley McCurry.

The lead was short lived, as the Crusaders posted four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-2 lead. Alysia Stewart led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Chelsea Elmore, and to third by Kelly Schweizer. Carol-Anne Sherrill plated her with a single to center to close the gap to 2-1. Kinsey McClure tied the game at two with a double to the gap in right center, scoring Sherrill all the way from first. McClure was then replaced by Kelsey Spangler, who moved to third on a single by Kathleen Pasquarella. Mars Hill then appeared to end the threat when Anna Smart lifted a fly ball to left, but it was dropped for an error, allowing Spangler and Pasquarella to score to put the Abbey ahead 4-2.

Emily Self set the Lions down in order in the fourth, and the Abbey scored four more in the bottom of the inning. Stewart reached on an error and Elmore was hit by a pitch. Schweizer drew a walk to load the bases, and Sherrill extended the lead to 6-4 with a ringing single to right, scoring Stewart and Elmore. Back-to-back RBI groundouts by McClure and Pasquarella, scoring Schweizer and Sherrill, respectively, moved the Crusader advantage to 8-4.

Mars Hill tied the game by scoring four unanswered runs, scoring three in the fifth and one more in the sixth. In the fifth, Seawell drove in a run and the Lions an Abbey error to score two more runs and whittle the Abbey lead to 8-7.

The Crusaders did not score in the fifth, and Mars Hill evened the game in the top of the sixth as Megan Arrington led off with a double to center, moved to third on a McAruthur groundout to third and scored on a wild pitch.

Belmont Abbey went down in order in the bottom of the inning, and Mars Hill went ahead in the top of the seventh. Morris ripped a one out double and was lifted for pinch runner Chelsea Varner. Shaundee Woosley skied a fly ball to center that was dropped, allowing her to move to second and Varner to third. Catcher Jade Bullins followed with a bunt single down the third base line that brought home Varner to put the Lions ahead 9-8.

Down to its final three outs, the Abbey pushed across the tying run to force extra innings. Brittany Southard drew a one out walk and was replaced by Sami Michaelis. After a strikeout, the Crusaders were down to their final out but Stewart blasted a double to the gap in right center, scoring Michaelis from first without a throw. Stewart was stranded at second after an Elmore groundout ended the inning.

In the top of the eighth the Lions went back ahead by one. Arrington, who made the final out of the seventh, was placed on second to start the eighth. McArthur moved her to third with a bunt single. McArthur then stole second and McCurry struck out looking. Seawell drove home Arrington with a sacrifice fly to right to put Mars Hill ahead 10-9.

In the bottom of the inning the Abbey won the game by pushing across a pair of runs. Elmore was placed on second and advanced to third on a single by Schweizer. A strikeout to Sherrill, followed by a steal of second by Schweizer, put two runners in scoring position. McClure loaded the bases with a single to shortstop, and Pasquarella ended the game with a single to right, scoring Elmore easily with the tying run. Schweizer, who had stopped at third scored when the throw got past Bullins and reached the backstop. Schweizer scooted home and just beat the tag with the winning run.

Michaelis earned the win in three innings of relief, giving up three runs, one earned, on four hits. She struck out three. Hannah Light took the loss after yielding seven runs, four earned, on six hits in four and two-thirds innings of relief of starter Tara West.

The two teams combined for 27 hits, 14 for Mars Hill and 13 for Belmont Abbey, with seven errors, three for Mars Hill and four for the Abbey. The game lasted two hours and 43 minutes.

Morris led Mars Hill with four hits in four at bats, while Seawall posted three hits in four at bats, and McArthur finished three for five. Pasquarella led the Crusaders with three hits.

In game two, Mars Hill jumped ahead 3-0 in the first on a two RBI triple from Haithcox. She later scored on a sacrifice fly by Morris. The Lions added one more in the third on a Taylor Miller single to left, scoring Morris.

After the Abbey went scoreless in the bottom of the inning, the umpires suspended the game due to darkness.