Hickory, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball Team (31-7, 10-0) ran its winning streak to 12 games with a doubleheader sweep of Mars Hill (9-18, 3-7), 13-11 and 7-5, Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference action at Bears Field.

Game One – Lenoir-Rhyne 13,
Mars Hill 11
The Bears broke a 5-5 tie with a six-run third inning yet still had to hold on to beat the Lions in the end.

Freshman outfielder Erin Boone (Creedmoor, N.C.) and sophomore designated player Mackenzie Cates (Efland, N.C.) highlighted the inning with run-scoring doubles for the Bears.

Lenoir-Rhyne was led offensively by sophomore outfielder Christina Walker (Roxboro, N.C.) with three hits and two runs scored while senior Brandi Hole (Sandy Ridge, N.C.) (2-1) earned the win in relief.  In addition, senior Maryann Hoskins (Havelock, N.C.) was credited with her third save of the season.

For Mars Hill, Taylor Lail (Conover, N.C.) and Casey Stanek (Winston-Salem, N.C.) hit two-run home runs despite the loss.  The Lions' Shelby Culler (Conway, S.C.) was tagged with the defeat and fell to 5-3 on the year.

Box Score

Game Two – Lenoir-Rhyne 7, Mars Hill 5
Lenoir-Rhyne raced to a 7-0 advantage – aided by a three-run home run from freshman first baseman Emily Kenley (Charlotte, N.C.) in the first inning – and held on once again to complete the sweep.

Cates drove in two more runs for the Bears, who opened the contest by plating six runs in the first inning.

Mars Hill's Ragan Broome (Monroe, N.C.) hit a grand slam in the fourth inning as the Lions tried to rally but fell short.  Broome finished with three hits in the game.

Hoskins (10-4) earned the win after going the distance while Stanek (0-4) was tagged with the loss for the Lions.

Box Score

Lenoir-Rhyne remains at home to take on Converse in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:00 p.m.  Mars Hill faces Tusculum in a league doubleheader in Greeneville, Tenn., on Tuesday starting at 4:00 p.m.