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Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Yniesta MHU
2
Catawba CAT 30-23
3
Winner LR LRBSB 42-10
Catawba CAT
30-23
2
Final
3
LR LRBSB
42-10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Catawba CAT 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 2
LR LRBSB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 7 1

W: Friebel, Ben (2-0) L: R. Cowie (3-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Dramatic Comeback Keeps Baseball Undefeated in SAC Tournament

Kodak, Tenn. - Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the eighth, the Lenoir-Rhyne baseball team didn't blink and came back to walkoff Catawba 3-2 with an RBI hit from Drew Yniesta in the bottom of the ninth. With the win, Lenoir-Rhyne moves to 2-0 in the SAC Tournament and will play Wingate on Sunday morning with the winner earning a spot in Monday's championship game. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Game final: Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Catawba 2
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (42-10), Catawba (30-23) 
Location: Kodak, Tenn. | Smokies Stadium

GAME INFO
  • The Lenoir-Rhyne bats were cold for the first seven innings of this game, mustering just a pair of hits against Catawba starter Ben Gilkes. 
  • Catawba was kept off the board by LR starter Andrew Patrick until an error in the top of the fourth plated the first run of the game. 
  • Catawba would make it 2-0 on a wild pitch.
  • Gilkes was pulled after seven strong innings and 117 pitches thrown in favor of junior Robbie Cowie. 
  • The Bears had two hits off Cowie in the eighth inning and Cole Laskowski reached via a base on balls  to open the inning.
  • Yniesta and Nick Clarno followed with walks of their own to load the bases with no one out. 
  • Atiles broke the scoreless drought with an RBI single and Anthony Porrino followed with a base hit of his own to pull LR even at 2-2. 
  • The first five batters all reached in the eighth but Cowie settled down to strike out the next three Bears in a row. 
  • Ben Friebel came on and retired Catawba 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to send the Bears back to the batter's box. 
  • David Bell started the ninth win a single down the left field line and Laskowski singled to the pitcher. On a 1-0 count, Yniesta laced a base hit to left center for the game-winning base hit. 
  • In total, LR had five hits in 1+ inning of relief for Cowie. 
  • Patrick's final line was 5.1 innings pitched with four hits allowed and two runs (one earned) to go with seven strikeouts.
  • Braden Houston, Spencer Floyd, Michael Allen and Friebel all put up zeroes over the final 3.2 innings. 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • The Bears were able to avenge a 3-game sweep at the hands of Catawba during the regular season.
  • In that sweep, LR lost the three games by a combined five runs and were walked off in the series opener in the 10th inning.
  • Laskowski was the only Bear with more than one hit in the game.
  • This was Patrick's first-ever appearance in the SAC Tournament. 
  • The Bears are in search of their first SAC Tournament title since winning in 2001.
  • With their win yesterday, LR snapped a nine-game losing streak in the SAC Tournament and it was their first win in the league tourney since 2006.
UP NEXT:  The Bears take on top seed and No. 1 nationally Wingate in a quick turnaround, playing at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning. The winner of LR/Wingate goes directly to Monday's SAC Championship and the loser will have to play a second game on Sunday to try to advance to the title game in the double-elimination tournament. 
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