SALISBURY, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball Team dropped a pair of games to Catawba on a chilly Tuesday afternoon. In game one, Catawba scored eight-straight runs to defeat the Bears, 9-6. In the night cap, the Bears fell, 3-2, as the Indians swept the Bears for the first time since 2015. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game One Final: Catawba 9, No. 18 Lenoir-Rhyne 6
Game Two Final: Catawba 3, No.18 Lenoir-Rhyne 2
Records: Catawba (18-16, 6-4 SAC) Lenoir-Rhyne (29-9, 6-4 SAC)
Game Location: Catawba, N.C. I Whitley Softball Field

STATS AND INFO:

• This is the first time since 2015 that Catawba swept the Bears in a doubleheader. 
• This was also the first time that the Bears lost at Catawba since 2018. 
• Mardigian came into the game leading the SAC with 38 RBIs.
• Lauren Rakes crossed the 100-strikeout mark today. 
• Rakes ranks sixth for active players in NCAA Division II with strikeouts. 

• With the Bears up 2-1 in the third, Catawba took control of the game with a three-run third followed by a five-run fourth. 
• The Bears, who were down, 9-2, tried to mount a comeback with three runs of their own in the fifth, and a solo run in the seventh, but ultimately fell, 9-6. 
• Rakes took the lost in the circle after allowing four runs in three innings, Faith Carrigan came in relief and gave up five runs in an inning of work; Alissa Russ finished the game in the circle allowing just one hit in two innings of relief. 
• Lauren Jackson had a solo home run in the seventh inning as the Bears had nine hits in the game. 

• The Bears had a 2-1 lead again when Catawba's Savanna Balderston hit a two-run home run to take a lead in the bottom of the fourth. 
• LR was held to just a Cassidy Wall single in the final three innings as Catawba held on for the 3-2 win. 
• Madison Wilson (8-3) threw the complete game allowing the three runs while striking out three. 
• Wilson had two of the Bears' four hits in the game. 

• The second game did have a lightning delay in the bottom of the first.
• This was the first one-run loss for the Bears, LR is 7-1 in one-run games.
• Jackson's home run was her first this year and third of her career. 
• The Bears are 0-4 on the road in the SAC, while 6-0 at home. 
• In the first five SAC doubleheaders, the Bears have either swept their opponent or have been swept. 

UP NEXT:  Bears will head to Belmont & Abbey for a doubleheader tomorrow. First-pitch is at 12:00 p.m.