Hickory, N.C. – The No. 23 Limestone Softball Team (23-3) ran its winnings streak to 13 games with a doubleheader sweep over fifth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne (26-5), 5-2 and 7-2, Thursday afternoon at Bears Field.

Game One – Limestone 5, Lenoir-Rhyne 2
The Saints' Sydney Turner (Cumming, Ga.) and Emma Swearingen (Simpsonville, S.C.) both hit home runs while Courtney Smith (Bluffton, S.C.) improved to 9-1 after going the distance and allowing two unearned runs in the complete game victory.

Swearingen's home run was a three-run round-tripper in the fifth frame to give the Saints control with a 5-0 advantage.

Lenoir-Rhyne junior designated hitter Mackenzie Cates (Efland, N.C.) drove in two runs while sophomore Brandi Parks (Roaring River, N.C.) (15-1) lost for the first time in 27 collegiate decisions.

Game Two – Limestone 7, Lenoir-Rhyne 2
Turner helped the Saints put the contest away with a three-run home run as part of a six-run first inning as Limestone completed the sweep of Lenoir-Rhyne.  Limestone's Josie Weber (Stanley, N.C.) (10-1) struck out four batters in the complete game win.

Lenoir-Rhyne senior catcher Sarah Kenley (Charlotte, N.C.) hit a two-run home run while sophomore Ty Triplett (Valdese, N.C.) fell to 7-1 after taking the loss.

Lenoir-Rhyne opens South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday at home against Tusculum in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.  Limestone faces Pfeiffer in a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 2:00 p.m., in Misenheimer, N.C.