WINGATE, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Bears quest for their first SAC Tournament title since 2022 was ended on Sunday, as they defeated Newberry 12-10 before falling to Wingate 12-11 in an elimination game.
The offense showed up in the opener, going off for 12 runs on 15 hits. The top six batters in Lenoir-Rhyne's lineup all had two hits, led by a five RBI, two run performance from
Lleyton Lackey.
Game two saw Lenoir-Rhyne get out to an 11-6 lead before Wingate scored six unanswered to advance to next weekend's SAC Championship series vs. Catawba.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game One Final: (3) Lenoir-Rhyne 12, (7) Newberry 10
Game Two Final: (2) Wingate 12, (3) Lenoir-Rhyne 11
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (37-13-1), Newberry (28-25). Wingate (37-16)
Location: Wingate, N.C. | Ron Christopher Field
STORY OF GAME ONE:
- This game saw 22 runs and 26 hits.
- The Bears opened up a 4-0 lead after two thanks to RBIs from Drew Beard and Lleyton Lackey.
- Newberry took a 5-4 lead before Lackey hit a 3-run bomb to put LR up 7-5 in the fourth.
- Lenoir-Rhyne picked up four insurance runs in the sixth, capped off by a 2 RBI single from Mackenzie Wainwright.
- Newberry cut it to one late, but Michael Burnley closed things out.
- Luke Steward (5-1) picked up the win with four solid innings of relief work.
- Seven Bears had at two hits, including the top six in the lineup.
- Lleyton Lackey was 2-for-4 with five RBIs, two runs scored, and two walks.
STORY OF GAME TWO:
- Lenoir-Rhyne led 7-6 after two innings.
- Sylas Boris hit a 2-run home run in the fourth inning to cap Lenoir-Rhyne's scoring.
- Wingate scored three in the sixth and three in the eighth to take the lead.
- Abram Grandstaff (0-1) suffered the loss.
- All but one Bear had a hit in this one, led by a 3-for-4 performance from Seth Christmas.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- This was Lenoir-Rhyne's first SAC Tournament win over Newberry since 2006.
- Wingate advances to face Catawba in the SAC Championship this weekend in Asheboro.
- Lenoir-Rhyne's 37 wins are the fourth most in program history.
UP NEXT: The Bears, ranked #6 in the Southeast Region at the moment, will find out their postseason fate during the NCAA selection show on Sunday, May 10th.