Dahlonega, Ga.-- On the first day of the North Georgia Leadoff Classic, Julia Mardigian RBI double in the bottom of the tenth helps the Bears walk-off #1 North Georgia 2-1 on Saturday morning.  Lauren Rakes went the distance in the circle without allowing an earned run while striking out seven in ten innings as the Bears defeated the reigning national champions in the first game today. In the night cap, Rakes used the bat as the senior hits a grand-slam while Mardigian hit a lead-off homerun as the Bears defeated UNC-Pembroke 9-0 for the second time this season. Alissa Russ picked up her second win the the circle. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game One Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 2, #1 North Georgia 1 (10 inn.)
Game Two Final:  Lenoir-Rhyne 9, UNC-Pembroke 0 (5 inn.)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (8-2), #1 North Georgia (9-2), UNC-Pembroke (3-8)
Game Location: Dahlonega, Ga. I Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium| 

STATS AND INFO:

• Bears last trip to Dahlonega on February 9th 2020 had the Bears upsetting then No. 16 North Georgia 1-0 as Rakes threw a complete game shutout and drove in the game's only run of the day. 
• LR last time defeating the No. 1 team in the nation also came in the 2020 season when the Bears defeated No. 11 Young Harris in an extra inning thriller. 
• Bears defeated UNC Pembroke 9-0 in six innings earlier this season in Hickory and are now 3-0 this season against the Braves. 

• First game was an classic pitching dual between Rakes and North Georgia's Tybee Denton as neither team got a runner to third until the bottom of the 6th. 
• The first two extra innings were played under regular softball rules but in the 10th inning each team started the inning with a runner on second with no outs. 
• North Georgia got the games first run on a RBI single by Tagen Levao-Maisonet but the Bears tied it thanks to an error by Denton in the bottom half.
• That set up Mardigian, who drilled a double to right center to score Abbey Nixon to give the Bears the victory. 
• Rakes pitched the complete game for her third win of the season. Rakes just allowed five hits and struck out seven. 

• Mardigian walked off the first game, and then hit a lead-off homerun in leadoff the the game in the night cap. 
• Rakes then connected on a grand slam in the 3rd inning to put the Bears up 5-0. 
• After Rakes's grand slam, The Bears added three more runs in their seven run 3rd inning. Camden Gerland had a RBI single while Mardigian had a sac fly and Cassidy Wall had a bases loaded walk in her second at bat in the inning.
• Adda Prescott then capped the Bears scoring for the day with a RBI single in the 4th. 
• Russ got the complete game shutout while allowing just five hits and no walking anyone and striking out five. Russ picked up her second win of the season and her first career shutout. 

• Rakes's win was her 49th career victory in the circle.  Rakes is one victory away from being just the 10th pitcher in program history with 50 wins. 
• Rakes also connected on her 29th career homerun. With one more homerun Rakes will be 10th all-time on the homerun leaderboard. 
• Mardigian was 3-3 in game one while the rest of the Bears were 0-26. 
• Mardigian was 5-6 on the afternoon after her second multi-hit game of the day.
• Rakes and Prescott also had two hits for the Bears. 

UP NEXT:  Bears will play Lake Erie and #1 North Georgia tomorrow to close the NGU Leadoff Classic.