HICKORY, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball Team shuts out an opponent for the first time in 2023 as they defeated St. Michael's (VT), 14-0, to sweep the two-game series.
March continues to be the Bears' month as they have extended their season-longest nine-game winning streak in addition to winning their ninth straight home game.
It was a full day for Coach Ramirez's pitching staff with seven arms being used. The complete staff allowed only four hits while striking out 11 batters; in the 31 at-bats faced, the Bears did not walk a single Purple Knights batter.
Andy Cook (2-1) started the game for the Bears and earned his first winning decision since the Feb. 7 contest against Coker. The combined bullpen did most of the work with 7.0 innings pitched, especially Cole Bramhall who tied for a team-most three strikeouts and faced eight opposing batters.
Flipping over to the offense, it becomes the eighth-consecutive game where LR reached the 10-run threshold. Out of the 16 hits the Bears recorded, there were 12 LR unique hitters including Bryce Stober, who had a three-hit performance.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 14, St. Michael's (VT) 0
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne 22-5, St. Michael's (VT) 0-9
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Durham Field
STATS AND INFO
- LR was walked nine times on Tuesday; that becomes the new season-high for most walks in a single game.
- The six highest team batting averages have all come in March, with Tuesday's .444 combined batting average being the second-highest.
- Blake Bean connected for his 13th home run of the season, extending his lead for the most in Division II.
- With another comfortable victory, Coach Ramirez was able to empty his bench with eight pinch-hitters getting at least one at-bat on Tuesday.
- Despite the 14 runs they scored, LR still stranded 12 runners out on the base paths.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Combined with yesterday's 19-2 victory, LR outscored St. Michael's (VT) 33-2 over the two days; the most lopsided score total of any opponent this season.
- With the conclusion of the first-ever series between these two schools, LR now leads 2-0 over St. Michael's (VT).
- This series was the last non-conference set on the Bears' schedule in 2023; there are four more stand-alone non-SAC games.
- LR went 5-0 in non-conference series this season, sweeping the last three against Southern Wesleyan, Cedarville and St. Michael's (VT).
- The Bears will begin a six-game stretch against SAC opponents, one of their longest this season.
UP NEXT: The Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball Team will return to conference play on Friday for the series opener against Wingate at 5:00 p.m.