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Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Cole Stanford
2
North Georgia UNG 39-16
4
Winner Lenoir-Rhyne LR 44-12
North Georgia UNG
39-16
2
Final
4
Lenoir-Rhyne LR
44-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Georgia UNG 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 0
Lenoir-Rhyne LR 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 X 4 7 0

W: Gradisar, Kellen (11-2) L: Pierce Williams (6-1) S: Marley, Gavin (8)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Joel Krenz, Assistant AD for Media and Communications

Cole Stanford's big day leads Bears to NCAA Tournament win over Nighthawks

BELMONT, NC - Lenoir-Rhyne has been to three NCAA Regionals, and they are now 3-0 in their opening games. Earlier today the Bears took down North Georgia 4-2, thanks to home runs from Cole Stanford and Owen Blackledge, as well as a great start on the mound from Kellen Gradisar.

Lenoir-Rhyne got all the runs they needed in the first inning when Cole Stanford launched his first home run since April 5th over the right field fence, scoring Sal Carricato and Mackenzie Wainwright. This win moves the Bears to the winners side of the bracket, where they will face the winner of tonight's Belmont Abbey/Carson-Newman game at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow evening.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: (3) Lenoir-Rhyne 4, (6) North Georgia 2
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (44-12), Catawba (39-16)
Location: Belmont, N.C. | Abbey Field

STORY OF THE GAME
  • Following a quick 1-2-3 inning from starter Kellen Gradisar, Lenoir-Rhyne scored three in the first thanks to a three-run shot from Cole Stanford.
  • North Georgia answered with a run in the top of the second.
  • The teams went scoreless over the next few innings until Owen Blackledge launched a solo home run in the fifth to push the lead to 4-1.
  • UNG threatened in the sixth, plating a run, but Randon Rigdan struck out Riley Frost with the bases loaded to get out of the jam.
  • Gavin Marley came in to pick up the save in the ninth, striking out two.
STATS OF THE GAME
  • Cole Stanford was 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI's and a run scored.
  • Kellen Gradisar (11-2) allowed just three hits and two runs in 5.2 innings of work.
  • Randan Rigdon struck out four in just 2.1 innings.
  • The Bears out-hit the Nighthawks 7-4.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
  • Cole Stanford threw out PBC Player of the Year Andrews Opata in the third inning, just the second time he has been caught stealing all season (40-42).
  • Mackenzie Wainwright now sits two hits away from 100 on the season.
  • Lenoir-Rhyne is now 4-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament games.
  • This was the first meeting all-time between these two teams.
UP NEXT: The Bears advance to tomorrow's winner's bracket game against the winner of Carson-Newman and Belmont Abbey. That game will be played at 6:00 p.m. from Abbey Field on the campus of Belmont Abbey.
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