Hickory, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball Team (44-9, 16-4), ranked No. 16 in NCAA Division II, split a doubleheader with Carson-Newman (39-10, 16-4) Saturday afternoon as the two teams share the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Championship.

The Bears fell in the first contest by a 3-2 score before salvaging the split with an 8-3 win over the Eagles in the nightcap.  Lenoir-Rhyne, the fifth-ranked team in the region, won its 11th league regular season championship in school history.

Game One – Carson-Newman 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 2
Ashlyn Cooper (Friendsville, Tenn.) hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to provide the Eagles all the offense they would need in holding on for the win.

Lenoir-Rhyne senior catcher Sarah Kenley (Charlotte, N.C.) and junior second baseman Madison Poe (Siler City, N.C.) both drove in runs in the sixth inning but the Bears couldn't get any closer.

The Eagels' Lacie Rinus (Murfreesboro, N.C.) improved to 22-5 on the year with the complete game victory while Lenoir-Rhyne freshman Sydney Miller (East Bend, N.C.) (13-5) was tagged with the loss.

Game Two – Lenoir-Rhyne 8, Carson-Newman 3
Lenoir-Rhyne raced to a 7-0 lead after four innings of play as the Bears managed the doubleheader split with the Eagles.

The Bears were aided by two bases-loaded walks in the second inning to get things going as part of a four-run frame while Kenley finished with two runs batted in.  Lenoir-Rhyne senior outfielder Dakota Keller (Mooresboro, N.C.) added two runs scored and a home run in the victory.

Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore Ty Triplett (Valdese, N.C.) improved to 11-2 on the year after earning the victory in relief while Allison Webster (Charlestown, Ind.) fell to 17-6 after taking the loss.

In the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship Quarterfinal Round in Hartsville, S.C., on Thursday, April 27, second-seeded LR faces seventh-seeded Tusculum at 12:30 p.m., while top-seeded Carson-Newman takes on No. 8 Queens at 3:00 p.m.