Pembroke, N.C. – The UNC Pembroke Baseball Team (10-1), ranked No. 11 in NCAA Division II, handcuffed No. 22 Lenoir-Rhyne (11-2) in a 5-2 win over the Bears Wednesday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.

UNC Pembroke's Hayden Buffkin (Laurinburg, N.C.) hit a three-run home run in the first inning to give the Braves the lead for good while Jesse Stinnett (Madison Heights, Va.) improved to 2-0 on the year after allowing just one earned run while pitching into the sixth inning in addition to seven strikeouts.

UNC Pembroke's Kyle Ramsey (Weaverville, N.C.) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his first save of the year.

Lenoir-Rhyne plated two unearned runs – courtesy of junior outfielder Marcus Shoemaker (Colfax, N.C.) and sophomore first baseman Alex Reynolds (Kings Mountain, N.C.) – in the sixth inning off an error but couldn't muster any other offense.  Lenoir-Rhyne was limited to just four hits in the game.

Lenoir-Rhyne freshman John Grigg (Lawndale, N.C.) fell to 2-1 after pitching five innings and suffering the loss.

Lenoir-Rhyne begins South Atlantic Conference play on Friday night in Anderson, S.C., against Anderson at 6:00 p.m.  UNC Pembroke hosts Lake Erie in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.