Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

WINGATE, N.C. - Kellen Gradisar shines when it matters most. The junior threw eight innings on Friday, allowing no runs and four hits while striking out six. 

The Bears scored one run in the second, seventh, and eighth innings to give them their final tally. Matt Procopio went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored to lead the Bears.

Lenoir-Rhyne now advances to face the host and No. 2 seeded Wingate Bulldogs tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: (3) Lenoir-Rhyne 3, (6) Carson-Newman 1
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (36-11-1), Carson-Newman (31-18)
Location: Wingate, N.C. | Ron Christopher Field

STORY OF GAME:

• Andrew Stillinger got the Bears on the board with an RBI single in the second.
• Between the end of the third and the first batter of the eighth, Kellen Gradisar retired 13 straight batters.
• Mackenzie Wainwright doubled Lenoir-Rhyne's lead with an RBI double in the seventh.
• Seth Christmas opened the eighth with a double, and Matt Procopio brought him home with an RBI single on the next at bat.
• Michael Burnley struck out three in the ninth to seal the win.

STATS OF GAME:

• Lenoir-Rhyne out-hit the Eagles 7-6. 
• Six different Bears accounted for their seven hits.
• Kellen Gradisar's six strikeouts tied his season high, also taking place against Carson-Newman.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Lenoir-Rhyne has now won their first SAC Tournament game in four of the past five years.
• This was the Bears' 30th SAC Tournament win of all time.
• Gradisar now has 50 strikeouts for the second straight season.
• Seth Christmas and Nathan Kidder are both on 13 game hit streaks.

UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne will now take on No. 2 seeded Wingate in tomorrow's winners bracket. The Bulldogs came back and won a 12 inning thriller earlier today over Newberry. First pitch is scheduled for 11 am. Should the Bears win, they would advance to play on Sunday at 1 pm. Should they lose, they would take on the winner of Newberry/Carson-Newman tomorrow at 7 pm.