Bristol, Tenn. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball Team (21-7) swept a road regional doubleheader from King (9-17), 9-1 and 5-0, Thursday afternoon at the Tornado Complex.

Game One – Lenoir-Rhyne 9,
King 1 (six innings)
Lenoir-Rhyne junior outfielder Dakota Keller (Mooresboro, N.C.) hit a two-run home run and sophomore designated player Mackenzie Cates (Efland, N.C.) drove in three runs in the victory.

The Bears, holding a 3-0 edge, broke the game open with a six-run fifth inning in run-ruling the Tornado.  Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore shortstop Madison Carter (Bessemer City, N.C.) highlighted the frame with a two-run double.

Lenoir-Rhyne freshman pitcher Emily Kenley (Charlotte, N.C.) improved to 3-2 on the year after earning the win on the mound while King's Lauren Smith (Church Hill, Tenn.) fell to 3-5 after taking the loss.  Olivia Lawson (Rogersville, Tenn.) hit a solo home run for the Tornado.

Box Score

Game Two – Lenoir-Rhyne 5, King 0
Lenoir-Rhyne freshman Brandi Parks (Roaring River, N.C.) improved to 5-0 on the year after pitching a two-hit shutout.  Parks struck out nine batters as well.

Cates once again led the Bears offensively, hitting two home runs and finishing with three runs batted in.  Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore outfielder Christina Walker (Roxboro, N.C.) added an RBI triple and freshman outfielder Erin Boone (Creedmoor, N.C.) totaled two hits and two runs scored in the win. 

For the day, Boone had five hits and scored five runs while King's Hayley Smothers (Camden, Tenn.) fell to 5-8 after taking the loss.

Box Score

Lenoir-Rhyne remains on the road to take on Tusculum in a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader on Saturday at 2:00 p.m., in Greeneville, Tenn.  King hosts Limestone in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader on Saturday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m.