Belmont, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball Team (2-0), ranked No. 25 in NCAA Division II, swept Belmont Abbey (0-2), 6-5 and 9-0, in the 2017 opener Wednesday afternoon at Abbey Yard.

Game One - Lenoir-Rhyne 6, Belmont Abbey 5
The Bears rallied from a 5-3 deficit to take the win.  Lenoir-Rhyne junior outfielder Christina Walker broke a five-all tie with a run-scoring ground out in the top of the fifth inning which proved to be the game-winning RBI.

Lenoir-Rhyne was led by sophomore outfielder Erin Boone (Creedmoor, N.C.), who finished with five hits and three runs scored.  On the mound, sophomore Brandi Parks (Roaring River, N.C.) (1-0) earned the win after pitching five scoreless innings while striking out seven batters for the Bears.

For Belmont Abbey, Annabeth Watkins (Wendell, N.C.) took the loss.

Game Two - Lenoir-Rhyne 9, Belmont Abbey 0 (five innings)
Lenoir-Rhyne hit three home runs in run-ruling Belmont Abbey in five innings.  Boone, senior outfielder Dakota Keller (Mooresboro, N.C.) and junior catcher Mackenzie Cates (Efland, N.C.) all hit round-trippers for the Bears.

Lenoir-Rhyne totaled 15 hits – led by junior shortstop Madison Carter (Bessemer City, N.C.) with four hits and two runs batted in – while freshman Sydney Miller (East Bend, N.C.) (1-0) earned the shutout win.

Belmont Abbey's Peyton Wilson (Lincolnton, N.C.) (0-1) suffered the loss.

Lenoir-Rhyne returns home to host Chowan in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Bears Field beginning at 1:00 p.m.  Belmont Abbey travels to Wingate, N.C., to take on Wingate in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m., on Tuesday, February 7.