Hickory, N.C.-- Lora Beth Wood hit home runs in both games as the Lenoir-Rhyne Softball team exploded for 23 runs in the doubleheader sweep at Bears Field. In game one, the Bears used 21 hits and scored 17 runs in a 17-1 win over Johnson C. Smith. In the night cap, Cassidy Wall broke a 4-4 tie with a solo home run as the Bears held on to win 6-4 to complete the sweep.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game One Final: No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne 17, Johnson C. Smith 1 (5 Inn.)
Game Two Final: No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne 6, Lock Haven 4
Records: No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne (14-1) Johnson C. Smith (1-2), Lock Haven (2-2)
Game Location: Bears Field I Hickory, N.C.
STATS OF GAME ONE:
- After scoring seven runs in the first inning in the second game on Wednesday, the Bears exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the first in this one as Katelyn Rackard and Talon LaClair each had a pair of hits in the inning. Lora Beth Wood smack a two-run homer in the frame as well.
- The Bears added four runs in the second and third innings and a solo run in the fourth inning to cruise to a 17-1 win.
- 13 Bears had hits led by a four-hit game by Rackard and a three-hit game by Faith Carrigan. It was Carrigan's first three-hit game of her career.
- Erin Lookabill added her first career home run with a three-run bomb in the third inning.
- Anna Blume, Kaylan Brown and LaClair joined Carrigan and Rackard with multi-hit games.
- Morgan Beeler picked up her seventh win of the season going three hitless innings.
- Brooklin Heavner pitched the final two innings, allowing just one run on two hits.
STATS OF GAME TWO:
- Rackard's two-run single got the Bears on the board in the second. It was her sixth hit of the day and 5th and 6th RBIs.
- Julia Mardigian extended the lead to three in the next at bat with a single to score Rackard.
- Lauren Rakes added an RBI double in the third inning to extend the lead to four.
- One swing of the bat in the fifth by Riley McClellan tied the game for Lock Haven with a grand slam just inside the left field foul pole.
- Cassidy Wall broke the tie on the first pitch of the bottom half with a bomb to center field. it was the second of the season for the sophomore.
- Wood added an insurance run with her second home run of the day two batters later.
- Beeler came in to close the door in the seventh to pick up her second save of the season as Rakes (5-0) picked up the win.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Bears moved to 4-0 all-time against Johnson C. Smith with all four victories ending in five innings.
- Today was the first match up between Lock Haven and the Bears since the 2017 season. The Bears, No. 10 in the nation at that time, defeated Lock Haven 8-0.
- Lock Haven beat Johnson C. Smith 14-7 in the first game of the day.
- Rackard had a hit in her first six at-bats today.
- Rakes threw her 400th career inning today and is just the 11th pitcher in program history to cross the 400 inning mark.
- LaClair's 8 game hitting streak was snapped in the second game.
- Wall has reached base in all thirteen games she has played this season.
- Beeler is now tied for third in program history with four saves.
UP NEXT: Bears will conclude the Bear Bash tomorrow with a rematch against both teams. First pitch for the Bears will be 3:30 against Johnson C Smith.
