Wingate, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball Team (23-7, 2-0) opened South Atlantic Conference play with a road doubleheader sweep of Wingate (16-8, 1-3), 4-1 and 9-8, Tuesday afternoon.
Game One – Lenoir-Rhyne 4,
Wingate 1
Lenoir-Rhyne freshman Emily Kenley (Charlotte, N.C.) improved to 4-2 on the year after pitching a complete game to lead the Bears. Kenley allowed just one run in seven innings of work to go along with seven strikeouts.
The Bears broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run third inning. The frame was aided by a pair of Bulldog errors while junior first baseman Sydney Landreth (Disputanta, Va.) was credited with an RBI single.
For Wingate, Misty Doran (Century, Fla.) drove in a run in the first inning but Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) (9-5) suffered the loss on the mound despite allowing one earned run with eight strikeouts.
Box Score
Game Two – Lenoir-Rhyne 9, Wingate 8
Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore shortstop Madison Carter (Bessemer City, N.C.) broke an eight-all tie with the game-winning, solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to complete the sweep.
Freshman outfielder Erin Boone (Creedmoor, N.C.) had a bases-clearing double for the Bears, who rallied from a 6-2 deficit to take the win.
Wingate lost despite the play of Taylor Laskey (Cherryville, N.C.), who hit two home runs and drove in six runs.
Kenley (5-2) pitched a scoreless seventh inning while Landreth added three hits and two runs scored in the victory. Houser (9-6) was tagged with the loss.
Box Score
Lenoir-Rhyne returns home to face Brevard in a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Wingate hosts Mars Hill Friday at 1:00 p.m., in a league doubleheader.
