HICKORY, NC - After opening up the 2025 season with a 3-5 record, the Lenoir-Rhyne Softball team not sits at #17 in this week's NFCA Poll. The Bears began the season as the #4 ranked team in the country after reaching the semi-finals of the the 2024 NCAA Division ll Championship. 

The Bears began the regular season in Gulf Shores, Alabama, losing their first four games. Two of these losses came to ranked teams in #25 Central Oklahoma and #6 Auburn Montgomery.

Lenoir-Rhyne took three of the four games at home in their McCrorie Family Stadium Grand Opening tournament. Day one of the tournament started with a Bears 15-14 walk-off win against Flagler, and  followed that up with a narrow 4-3 win over Davis & Elkins. Flagler handed the Bears their only loss of the weekend, 7-5, in the first game played this past Sunday, but the Bears finished the weekend with an 11-1 blowout victory against Davis & Elkins. 

After scoring ten runs total in Gulf Shores, the Bears produced a total of 35 runs during their homestand, including hitting six home runs and 13 doubles. Madison Primm leads the team offensively through the first eight games with 12 hits and five runs driven in. Five Bears have hit at least one home run this season while eight players have recorded at least one double.  

Madison Wilson has started four games for the Bears, throwing 23 innings and has a 1-1 record on the circle. Faith Carrigan has appeared the most for the Bears on the circle (5) and has posted a 2-2 record with 16.2 IP. 

Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Greenwood, S.C. this weekend for a neutral site meeting with Georgia College followed by a duel with Lander on Saturday night in the Bearcat Tournament. Game times are 2:00 p.m. for the Georgia College game and 6:00 p.m. for the Lander dual.