Hickory, N.C. - Lenoir-Rhyne (22-9) and Shepherd (9-7) split a doubleheader in softball Monday afternoon at Bears Field.? L-R, ranked No. 25 in NCAA Division II, won the first game by a 3-2 score but Shepherd prevailed in the second contest, 4-3.
Game One - Lenoir-Rhyne 3,
Shepherd 2
Lenoir-Rhyne scored all three runs in the bottom of the first inning and was able to hold on to take the first contest of the doubleheader.
Junior first baseman Jessica Fellmeth (Waxhaw, N.C.) and freshman designated player Katie Carpenter (Newton, N.C.) each drove in a run in the frame.
The Rams scored singles run in the second and sixth innings, respectively, to cut the margin to one but it wasn't enough.
L-R senior Dawon Millwood (Hixson, Tenn.) went the distance and picked up the win on the mound.?
Millwood (12-4) also struck out eight batters while Shepherd's Tricia Bettura (Canfield, Ohio) fell to 4-4 with the loss.
Shepherd's Bianca Biondillo (Canfield, Ohio) hit a solo home run in the second inning and finished with a pair of hits for the Rams?despite the loss.
Box Score
Game Two - Shepherd 4, Lenoir-Rhyne 3
The Rams rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take the win and split the doubleheader with the Bears.
For the second straight game, the Bears plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning highlighted by RBI doubles from senior second baseman Carlee Carpenter (Newton, N.C.) and senior catcher Sarah Atkins (Newport News, Va.).
The Rams quickly tied the contest with a three-run second inning capped off by a sacrifice fly from Shanan Plunkett (Hagerstown, Md.).
Shepherd's Tiffany Biggs (Harpers Ferry, W.Va.) came through with the game-winning, run-scoring single in the fourth.? Biggs (3-2) drove in two runs and?was also credited with the win in the contest.
Lenoir-Rhyne senior Lauren Harris (Yadkinville, N.C.) fell to 4-2 on the season while Carpenter finished with two hits and an RBI in the setback.
Box Score
Lenoir-Rhyne hits the road to take on USC Aiken in a doubleheader on Wednesday in Aiken, S.C., beginning at 3:00 p.m.? Shepherd plays at Winston-Salem State on Tuesday in a 3:00 p.m., doubleheader.
