Hickory, N.C. – Lenoir-Rhyne (15-3) and Francis Marion (13-7) split a softball doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Bears Field. The Patriots took the first game by a 2-1 score while the Bears won the nightcap, 3-2. Lenoir-Rhyne is ranked No. 19 in NCAA Division II.
Game One – Francis Marion 2,
Lenoir-Rhyne 1
The Patriots' Mykah Nevin (Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) hit a solo home run while Shelby Kelly (Jacksonville, Fla.) allowed just one run in a complete game victory to lead Francis Marion to the win.
Kelly scattered six hits in addition to seven strikeouts and Francis Marion won despite totaling just four hits in the contest.
For Lenoir-Rhyne, senior Maryann Hoskins (Havelock, N.C.) suffered the loss while senior pinch hitter Anne Marie Lackey (Fallston, N.C.) drove in the Bears' lone run of the contest.
Box Score
Game Two – Lenoir-Rhyne 3,
Francis Marion 2
With the two tied at two, Lenoir-Rhyne senior shortstop Madison Carter (Bessemer City, N.C.) hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh as the Bears were able to manage the split.
Hoskins (6-3) pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out the side, to earn the victory in relief.
For Francis Marion, Taylor Brunson (Shawnee, Kan.) hit a solo home run while Kelly (7-6) suffered the setback.
Box Score
Lenoir-Rhyne hosts Pfeiffer in a doubleheader next Tuesday beginning at 3:00 p.m. Francis Marion hosts Brevard Thursday in a doubleheader at 3:00 p.m.