Augusta, Ga. – Lenoir-Rhyne (18-6), ranked No. 18 in NCAA Division II, split a regional doubleheader with Augusta (9-23) Saturday afternoon at Jaguar Field. Augusta prevailed in the first contest by a 3-0 score while the Bears shut out the Jaguars, 3-0, in the nightcap to salvage the split.
Game One – Augusta 3,
Lenoir-Rhyne 0
The Jaguars' Haley Birkle (Gainesville, Fla.) pitched a three-hit shutout to lead Augusta State to the win. Birkle (3-6) struck out three batters in the victory
Augusta was led at the plate by Brianna Dickens (Watkinsville, Ga.), who totaled two hits and two runs batted in.
Lenoir-Rhyne freshman Emily Kenley (Charlotte, N.C.) went the distance as well and struck out six batters but fell to 1-2 on the year.
Box Score
Game Two – Lenoir-Rhyne 3,
Augusta 0
Lenoir-Rhyne freshman Brandi Parks (Roaring River, N.C.) led the Bears to the split. Parks improved to 4-0 on the season after notching a three-hit shutout in addition to six strikeouts.
Lenoir-Rhyne freshman outfielder Erin Boone (Creedmoor, N.C.) hit a solo home run, her team-tying fifth of the season, while junior first baseman Sydney Landreth (Disputanta, Va.) also drove in a run in the victory.
Augusta University's Paige Deschaine (Summerville, S.C.) fell to 4-8 after suffering the loss. Deschaine allowed just one earned run in addition to seven strikeouts.
Box Score
Lenoir-Rhyne returns home to take on Belmont Abbey in a doubleheader at Bears Field on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Augusta hosts Coker in a doubleheader Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
