Greeneville, Tenn. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball Team (27-7, 6-0) made it eight straight victories with a doubleheader sweep of Tusculum (15-19, 1-5), 6-3 and 2-1, Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference action at Red Edmonds Field.
Game One – Lenoir-Rhyne 6,
Tusculum 3
Lenoir-Rhyne broke a three-all tie with three runs in the top of the seventh inning highlighted by a game-winning, two-run single from senior third baseman Jordin Phillips (Hampstead, N.C.) in the victory.
Both teams scored three runs in the fourth inning – including a two-run single by the Bears' sophomore second baseman Madison Poe (Siler City, N.C.) – and Lenoir-Rhyne totaled 14 hits in the contest including three hits and a run scored from both freshman outfielder Erin Boone (Creedmoor, N.C.) and sophomore shortstop Madison Carter (Bessemer City, N.C.).
Lenoir-Rhyne freshman Brandi Parks (Roaring River, N.C.) improved to 8-0 on the year after earning the win in middle relief while senior Maryann Hoskins (Havelock, N.C.) notched her second save of the year.
For Tusculum, Emily Hester (Kings Mountain, N.C.) finished with a pair of hits and a run batted in while Eliza Davis (Lexington, N.C.) (10-8) suffered the loss.
Box Score
Game Two – Lenoir-Rhyne 2, Tusculum 1
Trailing by a 1-0 score, the Bears scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to complete the sweep of the Pioneers.
A sacrifice fly by Phillips – scoring freshman second baseman Cassie Healy (Cary, N.C.) – proved to be the game-winner for Lenoir-Rhyne.
The Bears' Hoskins (8-4) earned the complete game victory while striking out 10 batters and allowing one unearned run. Tusculum's Cayla Cecil (High Point, N.C.) fell to 5-4 after taking the loss. Taylor Battle (Chattanooga, Tenn.) finished with two hits and a run scored for the Pioneers.
Box Score
Lenoir-Rhyne hosts Newberry in a South Atlantic Conference game Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Tusculum plays on the road against Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday in Harrogate, Tenn., beginning at 2:00 p.m.
