Longwood, Fla.-- The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball team saw their historic season come to the end in the National Semifinal as the Bears fell to No. 2 UT Tyler 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon. The Bears made their first ever appearance at the Division II Softball Championship in 2024. LR won their first ever World Series game in program history as the Bears finished 2-2 on the week competing all the way to the final four.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game Final: No. 2 UT Tyler 5, No 8 Lenoir-Rhyne 2
Records: UT Tyler (55-8) ,Lenoir-Rhyne (52-18),
Game Location: Longwood, Fla
STATS AND INFO:
- Bears played the top four seeds in this World Series. No. 1 AUM, No. 2 UT-Tyler, No. 3 Wilmington and No. 4 Indianapolis.
- Julia Maridigian was named the 9th All-American in program history this afternoon.
- Mardigian is the 3rd player to be named First-Team All-American and the first since the 2010 season.
- 52 wins is tied for second most in a single season for the Bears.
GAME INFO:
- UT-Tyler struck first with a pair of runs in the first before adding a run in second and another pair in the fourth.
- Bears finally broke through with a two-out two-run double by Lauren Rakes in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-2.
- However that was all the offense the Bears could mustard against Christin Haygood as Haygood only allowed two hits in the complete game.
- Bears used three pitchers in this one as Madison Wilson got the start, Faith Carrigan came in relief for 2 2/3 innings as Rakes come in to finish the game.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Rakes crossed the 830 career strikeout mark today.
- Rakes and Katelyn Rackard each hit .333 this week to lead the Bears.
- Bears did not get any singles in this game both hits were doubles.
- Bears did not hit a homerun or give up a homerun in the four games this week.
UP NEXT: Take some time to look back at what this journey saw. The Bears won the SAC Tournament, won the Southeast Regional and won their first ever Super Regional. Went to their first NCAA Softball Championship , won two games in the tournament and was one of the last four teams standing. Finished with 52 wins,. Won six extra innings game in the postseason. Won six straight one-run games this postseason. Team 25 provided a season to remember!