Hickory, N.C.-- Shenna Hollar won her 900th career game as the head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne as the Bears swept Belmont Abbey in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon in Hickory. Hollar, in her 24th year at the helm here in Hickory, has a record of 900-317-2. Talon LaClair hit two home runs in game two while Lauren Rakes and Camden Gerland each added three-run homeruns as the Bears cruised to victory against the Crusaders.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game One Final: No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne 10, Belmont Abbey 2 (5 Inn.)
Game Two Final: No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne 10, Belmont Abbey 0 (5 Inn.)
Records: No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne (12-1) Belmont Abbey (3-5)
Game Location: Bears Field I Hickory, N.C.
STATS OF GAME ONE:
- The Bears jumped on the board early with four hits in the opening frame leading to RBIs by LaClair and Lora Beth Wood.
- Julia Mardigian's two-run double extended the lead for the Bears in the second but the Bears left the bases loaded with one out.
- LR did put the game away in the bottom of the fourth with a six-spot highlighted by Rakes' three-run home run. The homer was Rakes' third of the season.
- The Crusaders did score two in the top of the fifth but the Bears closed out the win via the mercy rule at 10-2.
- Wood, Jackson and Mardigian each had two hits and two RBIs in the contest.
- Beeler moved to 6-1 on the season with the complete game. Beeler struck out a season high ten while only giving up the two runs.
STATS OF GAME TWO:
- LR wasted no time in game two scoring seven runs before an out was recorded led by three-run home runs by LaClair and Gerland.
- After having a homerun robbed in the second inning, LaClair hit her second homer of the game,a two-run shot in the bottom of the third.
- LaClair finished the game 2-3 with 2 HR and 5 RBIs. LaClair has now hit five home runs on the season.
- Wall, Jackson, Wood joined LaClair with two hits in the game.
- Rakes (4-0) went three scoreless innings in the circle to get the win while Brooklin Heavner and Faith Carrigan threw scoreless innings in relief to complete the shutout.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Hollar has 945 career wins as she won 45 games at Newberry before taking over duties here at LR.
- Beeler's 10 strikeouts in game one was the fourth time she has fanned double digits in a single game.
- Beeler's six victories is second most in the SAC.
- Bears moved to 7-0 when scoring in the first innings this year and 112-22 since 2015.
- LaClair has now reached base in all 13 games to start the season while Wall has reached base in the last 11 games.
UP NEXT: Bears will host Bear Bash this weekend. LR will play six games against Lock Haven, Johnson C Smith and UNC-Pembroke. Action starts Friday with a 2:00 first pitch against Lock Haven.