Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Baseball hit
9
USC Aiken USCA 16-7
11
Winner Lenoir-Rhyne LR 15-4-1
USC Aiken USCA
16-7
9
Final
11
Lenoir-Rhyne LR
15-4-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
USC Aiken USCA 1 0 0 2 2 4 0 0 0 9 14 2
Lenoir-Rhyne LR 0 6 3 0 0 0 0 2 X 11 13 0

W: Steward, Luke (1-0) L: Brady Dunlop (2-1) S: Renaud, Jack (6)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Jason Stuebe, Athletic Communications Assistant

Baseball scores late to defeat USC-Aiken 11-9

HICKORY, N.C.- The Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball team opened up a 9-1 lead after three innings but saw the lead evaporate as visiting USC Aiken scored the next eight runs to tie the game. The Bears scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to re-take the lead and Jack Renaud shut the door in the 9th to pick up his sixth save of the season as the Bears defeated the Pacers 11-9 in a key Southeast Regional matchup. 

Lleyton Lackey hit a three-run home run and Mackenzie Wainwright picked up three more hits to lead LR to victory. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game Final: (RV) Lenoir-Rhyne 11, USC-Aiken 9
Records:  Lenoir-Rhyne (15-4-1), USC-Aiken (16-7)
Location: Hickory, N.C. I Durham Field

STORY OF GAME:
  • The Pacers struck first with a single run to open the game in the 1st.
  • The Bears used three extra base hits, including a two-run triple by Mackenzie Wainwright, to put up six runs in the bottom of the second. 
  • Lleyton Lackey then hit a three-run home run off the scoreboard to give LR 9-1 lead after three.
  • USC Aiken then battled back to tie the game with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings before knotting it up with a four-spot in 6th. 
  • Conor Linkfield gave the Bears the lead in the bottom of the 8th as he led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a Wainwright hit, then scored on a errant pick-off throw.
  • The second Pacer error of the inning give LR a key insurance run later in the 8th. 
  • Jack Renaud then came in the game to lock down the 9th and pick up his sixth save of the season. 

STATS OF GAME:

  • Wainwright went 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs.
  • After his home run, Lackey reached base three more times with three walks. 
  • Michael Joyce got the start and went 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs and striking out five.
  • Luke Steward picked up the win in relief as he threw two scoreless innings. 
  • Sylas Boris and Seth Christmas had two hits each as all nine Bears starters had hits in this one. 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
  • The Bears move to 5-0 lifetime against USC-Aiken, including a sweep of the two mid-week games this season. 
  • This is USC-Aikens second ever trip to Hickory and first since the 2022 season. 
  • Both of these teams are ranked in the NCBWA SE Regional Poll.
  • This was Christmas' 9th multi-hit game of the season. 
UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne will welcome Anderson to Hickory for a weekend SAC series The Trojans are 15-8 on the season and 4-8 in the SAC. Anderson is coming off a 13-1 win over Claflin yesterday and remains unbeaten outside of conference play. First-pitch from Durham Field on Friday is scheduled for 5:00 PM. 
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors