Florence, S.C.- The Lenoir Rhyne's Softball Team swept a doubleheader on day two of the Patriot Invitational to move their winning streak to 11 in a row. The Bears beat No. 24 West Liberty in the opener and used a heroic performance from Lauren Rakes to outlast Francis Marion in a 13-inning marathon in the night cap. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game 1 Final:  Lenoir-Rhyne 4, #24 West Liberty 2
Game 2 Final:  Lenoir-Rhyne 5, Francis Marion 3 (13 inn)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (12-5), #24 West Liberty (0-4), Francis Marion (10-9)
Location:  FMU Softball Stadium I Florence 

STATS OF GAME ONE:

• Savannah Moorefield walked, stole second, advance to third on a Katelyn Rackard sacrifice bunt then stole home to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
• The Hilltoppers tied it with an RBI single by Grace Swigart in the 4th.
• The Bears got the run back with a pitch hit RBI groundout by Kori Hammett. 
• LR then added two insurance runs with an RBI double by Julia Mardigian and a RBI single by Hannah Jennings.
• Brooklin Heavner (2-1) got the win throwing 5 1/3 innings allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out three.
• Lauren Rakes came in relief to get the last five outs to earn her second save on the season.

STATS OF GAME TWO:

• Francis Marion got single runs in the first and second. A RBI double by Danielle Karacson brought in the first and a bases loaded walk by Megan Matsil gave the Patriots a 2-0 lead.
• After the Patriots got another run on a bases loaded walk, the Bears scored three with two outs in the top of the 4th. Cassidy Wall hit an RBI single then back-to-back RBI doubles by Mardigian and Jennings evened it at three.
• Morgan Beeler got the start in the circle went 2 1/3 innings allowing three earned runs.
• For the second straight game, Rakes entered in relief for the Bears.
• Rakes was electric, not allowing a hit until her sixth inning of work. Rakes struck out 10 of the first 14 batters she faced.
• The junior got out of a bases-loaded and nobody out jam in the bottom of the ninth by getting a pair of pop outs and then a strike out on a 3-2 pitch to send it to the 10th.
• Rakes would escape danger again in the 10th, this time with runners on second and third and no one out. A strikeout and then a pop out into a double play erased the threat.
• Moorefield would pick an ideal time to extend her hitting streak to 18 games with an RBI single to lead off the 13th. Moorefield would score on a sacrifice fly from Leonhardt as LR went up 5-3.
• Rakes would slam the door shut with a scoreless bottom of the 13th to earn the win. Her final stat line was 10.2 innings pitched, two hits, four walks and 17 strikeouts.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The last time the Bears played West Liberty was in 2011. Hally Jarman drove in an eight runs which tied a program record, a record that still stands today. 
• 2005 was the last time the Bears had a five game losing streak and a ten game winning streak in the same season. 
• the game against West Liberty was the first neutral site game this year that the Bears were the home team. LR were the visitors in the first five neutral site games this year.
• Rakes entered the day second in the nation in strikeouts. 
• Rakes now leads the SAC with two saves.
• Bears move to 2-0 in extra innings games this year. 
• Bears last ranked win before today was on February 29, 2020 when the Bears defeated No. 1 Young Harris in 9 innings.

UP NEXT: Bears will play Kutztown on Sunday at 10:00 AM.