HICKORY, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball Team swept a doubleheader against Queens University on Wednesday afternoon and pounded out 19 hits in the two games. The Bears now have a game-and-a-half lead on Lincoln Memorial for first place in the South Atlantic Conference standings.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Finals: Lenoir-Rhyne 6, Queens 3; Lenoir-Rhyne 10, Queens 2 (5 innings)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (24-10, 5-2 SAC), Queens (17-9, 5-5 SAC)
Location: Bears Field | Hickory, N.C.
STATS OF GAME ONE:
• The Bears broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning when
Talon LaClair singled in a run and
Erin Boone scored on a fielder's choice as LR pushed across two runs on three hits.
• Queens would respond with two runs in the top half of the fourth to draw even. The Bears would load the bases in the bottom of the fifth for freshman
Leanna Sherrill who crushed a 2-run double to left field for the game-winning hit.
Kory Hammett and Casie Healy added RBIs in the inning as the Bears pushed the lead to 6-2.
•
Brandi Parks would earn her league-leading 17th win of the season by tossing a complete game and allowing just five hits. The senior struck out five batters and walked just one.
• LaClair finished game one with a 3-for-3 performance and a run scored to go with an RBI. Boone walked in each of her four appearances and Healy added a stolen base.
STATS OF GAME TWO:
• Queens took an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first before the Bears answered with a four-spot in the bottom half of the inning. LaClair scored one with a double and Sherrill hit a 3-run homer to left.
•
Mackensi Swain added an RBI single in the second as LR took a 5-1 lead. Queens made it 5-2 in the fourth but that would be the last run they would score in the game.
• Hammett added a run-scoring hit and another run came around to score on an error. LaClair would step to the plate in the bottom of the fifth with two on and crushed a 3-run shot to right center to invoke the mercy rule as the Bears took a 10-2 decision.
•
Emily Kenley improved to 6-3 with her five innings of work. The senior allowed one earned run and struck out two.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• Queens didn't retire LaClair in either game. The shortstop went 6-for-6 with five runs scored and five runs driven in.
• Boone drew six walks in the two games and scored three runs.
• The Bears have beaten Queens 21 of the last 22 times they have played.
UP NEXT:
The Bears are back in action on Saturday when they host Carson-Newman at 2 p.m.
