HICKORY, N.C.- Paul Toovalian spun a gem on Friday night, throwing a complete game two-hitter while striking out eleven as the Bears defeated Anderson 12-0 to open their weekend SAC series.
Mackenzie Wainwright ended the game via mercy rule with a three-run bomb in the bottom of the seventh. The home run was Wainwright's second of the game as he finished the day 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Xavier Mann and
Nathan Kidder went deep and
Seth Christmas joined Wainwright with three hits on the night.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game Final: (RV) Lenoir-Rhyne 12, Anderson 0 (7 Inn.)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (16-4-1, 8-4-1 SAC), Anderson (15-9, 4-9 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. I Durham Field
STORY OF GAME:
- Toovalian was the story in this one as he made his first conference start and allowed just two singles, both in the third inning.
- Toovalian (2-0) struck out eleven on the night and retired the last thirteen Trojans he faced in this one.
- The Bears offense scored two runs in the first, second, and fourth innings and put up a three runs in the fifth and seventh.
- Matt Procopio got the scoring going with a two-run double in the first.
- Kidder hit a two-run shot in the second inning to give LR a 4-0 lead.
- Wainwright then hit his first home run in the 4th inning, a two-run shot to right center
- Mann hit a 412' foot bomb for his first home run of the season in the fifth.
- Wainwright then called game with a monster blast to straight away center, 432' foot home run to end the game in the bottom of the 7th via mercy rule.
STATS OF GAME:
- Eight of the Bears' thirteen hits went for extra bases.
- Christmas and Wainwright each had three hits.
- Wainwright had a career high six RBIs tonight.
- Procopio, Mann and Kidder each had two RBIs.
- Lackey had three more walks on the night to bring his season total to 27.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The Bears have won five in a row against the Trojans.
- Christmas extended his hitting streak to seven games, which is the second longest by any Bear this season.
- Lackey had a streak of five straight plate appearance with a walk dating back to Wednesday.
- Toovalian's eleven strikeout is the most by a Bears pitcher this season.
UP NEXT: The two clubs will finish the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM from Durham Field.