Dahlonega, Ga.-- For the first time in program history, The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball team is heading to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship as the Bears defeated North Georgia 9-1 in game three to advance to next week's World Series in Orlando. Lauren Rakes hit two homeruns in the eight-run 4th inning as Rakes also gave up just one run in the circle to help punched the Bears's ticket to Florida. The Bears will be the first ever SAC school to appear in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game Final: #22 Lenoir-Rhyne 9 #8 North Georgia 1 (5 Inns.)
Records: North Georgia (52-13) , Lenoir-Rhyne (50-16)
Game Location: Dahlonega, Ga.
STATS AND INFO:
- Team 25 will have one more week to play as Head Coach's Shena Hollar 976th career win at Lenoir-Rhyne punched the ticket to Orlando.
- This was the Bears third 50-win season in program history.
- This is the second time the Bears and North Georgia went to three games in the Super Regional (2010)
- Bears move to 3-5 all-time in the Super Regional.
- Julia Mardigian got her 100th hit of the season in today's game.
GAME INFO:
- Two errors give the Nighthawks an early 1-0 lead but Rakes got out of a bases loaded one-out jam to avoid an even bigger deficit.
- Lani Warren tied the game at one with a RBI single in the third innings.
- The Bears broke it open with an eight-run spot in thr 4th highlighted by Rakes two homeruns in the inning including a three-run shot to finish the scoring.
- Rakes then got the final three outs to punch the Bears ticket to Orlando.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Bears had ten hits in five innings as Rakes, Mardigian and Madison Primm had two each.
- Rakes hit her 42nd and 43th career homeruns in game three and had three total on the day as Rakes's homerun in game two help the Bears advance.
- Rakes did not allow an earned run in a complete game for the third time in her career at North Georgia.
UP NEXT: NCAA Division II Softball Championship starts May 19th. The eight-team tournament is double elimination as more information will be coming out in the next few days.
