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Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Softball 2025 SAC Champs
2
Wingate WU 37-21
3
Winner Lenoir-Rhyne LR 36-17
Wingate WU
37-21
2
Final
3
Lenoir-Rhyne LR
36-17
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Wingate WU 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 8 0
Lenoir-Rhyne LR 2 0 0 0 0 1 X 3 3 1

W: Wilson, Madison (18-7) L: Hali Scott (8-6) S: Carrigan, Faith (1)

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

Back-to-Back! Softball defeats Wingate to win second consecutive SAC Championship

WINGATE, NC - For the 10th time in school history the Lenoir-Rhyne Softball team can call themselves SAC Tournament Champions. The Bears defeated #1 seeded Wingate 3-2 to take home their second consecutive conference crown. With the win the Bears booked their 17th trip to the NCAA Tournament, and their fourth in as many years. 

The Bears won doing what they do best, hitting home runs. Lani Warren launched a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the first, and SAC Freshman of the Year Avery Kiger scored what would be the game winning run on a long ball in the sixth. 

Not to be out-done were pitchers Madison Wilson and Faith Carrigan. Wilson threw five scoreless innings to pick up the win, while Carrigan came in and notched the first save of her career to close it out.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game Final: (2) Lenoir-Rhyne 3, (1) Wingate 2
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (36-17), Wingate (37-21)
Location: Wingate, N.C. | WU Softball Complex

STORY OF GAME:
  • With no outs and two runners on in the first, Madison Wilson forced a pop up and got two strikeouts to get out of the inning.
  • Lani Warren rewarded Wilson's efforts with a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning, scoring Madison Primm.
  • It was a pitchers battle the next few innings, as neither team scored until the sixth.
  • Wingate threatened in the fifth, but Primm threw out Kiersten Wall at home to preserve the scoreless game.
  • Avery Kiger plated the Bears' third and final run of the game with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth.
  • The Bulldogs cut the lead to one with a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh, but Faith Carrigan picked up a strikeout and a fly out to give LR the championship. 

STATS OF GAME::

  • The Bears were out-hit 8-3 in this one, with all three hits going for extra bases.
  • Lani Warren's home run was her 14th of the season and the 25th of her career.
  • Wilson (18-7) struck out three and didn't allow a walk in five innings of work.
  • Lenoir-Rhyne's defense forced Wingate to leave seven runners on base.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

  • This marks Lenoir-Rhyne's 10th SAC Tournament Championship, and their first back-to-back title since they won four straight from 2010-13. 
  • Last year, the Bears defeated Anderson 3-2 to win their first title since 2013.
  • The Bears are on a 10-game winning streak, their longest of the season.
  • Lenoir-Rhyne is now 15-8 in the SAC Tournament against Wingate.
UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne, currently ranked #4 in the region, will find out their seed and location of the NCAA regional during Monday's 10 a.m. selection show on NCAA.com.
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