Hickory, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball Team (24-16, 11-10) split a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader with Tusculum (20-20, 12-9) Sunday afternoon at Bears Field. Tusculum rallied to take the first game by a 7-5 score while Lenoir-Rhyne dominated the nightcap, 13-3, to salvage the split.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Tusculum 7, Lenoir-Rhyne 5; Lenoir-Rhyne 13, Tusculum 3
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (24-16, 11-10 SAC), Tusculum (20-20, 12-9 SAC)
Location: Bears Field | Hickory, N.C.
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STATS OF THE GAME (Game 1):
• The Bears' defense committed five errors which led to five unearned runs for the Pioneers. Tusculum jumped out to a 7-1 lead and was able to hold on for the victory.
• Lenoir-Rhyne redshirt freshman
Brock Johnson (Granite Falls, N.C.) hit a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning and was part of a three-run ninth frame for the Bears, who came up just short. LR also lost despite holding an 11-8 advantage in hits. Lenoir-Rhyne junior
Hunter Martin (Stanfield, N.C.) fell to 1-5 after taking the loss.
• Tusculum's Daulton Martin (Lancaster, Pa.) scored twice while Chase McAllister (Powell, Tenn.) (3-1) earned the win and Mitch McCain (Lawrenceville, Ga.) was credited with his fourth save of the year.
STATS OF THE GAME (Game 2):
• Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to a 10-0 advantage after four innings of play and never looked back as the Bears salvaged the split.
• Lenoir-Rhyne junior outfielder
Aaron Stamper (Clemmons, N.C.) hit a three-run home run – his team-leading seventh of the year – while Johnson and junior outfielder
Justin Dean (Mauldin, S.C.) both totaled three hits and two RBI in the victory.
• Sophomore
John Grigg (Lawndale, N.C.) improved to 7-1 after earning the win for the Bears.
• Tusculum's Seth DeHaven (Fort Myers, Fla.) hit a three-run home run but Tusculum's Zach Sanders (Peachtree City, Ga.) fell to 3-4 after taking the loss.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• The Bears remained above .500 in South Atlantic Conference play.
UP NEXT:
Lenoir-Rhyne remains at home to take on Erskine on Tuesday night at Bears Field beginning at 6:00 p.m., while Tusculum hosts Bluefield State on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.