A pair of seventh-inning rallies enabled Lenoir-Rhyne University
to sweep a South Atlantic Conference softball doubleheader from
Tusculum College on Saturday. The Bears (27-7, 6-0 SAC) scored
three runs in the seventh to defeat the Pioneers 6-3 in the opener,
then tallied twice in the seventh in game two for a 2-1 victory as
the Bears' Jordin Phillips knocked in the go-ahead runs in each
game.
The Pioneers (15-19, 1-5 SAC) return to action Tuesday afternoon at
Lincoln Memorial, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 2
p.m.
Game 1: Lenoir-Rhyne 6, Tusculum 3 - box score
The Bears scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take
a 3-0 lead, only to see the Pioneers come back with three runs in
the bottom of the fourth. However, Lenoir-Rhyne put together three
runs on four hits in the top of the seventh to earn the
victory.
Erin Boone and Madison Carter each went 3-for-4 for the Bears,
while Phillips, Christina Walker and Dakota Keller each had a pair
of hits as part of a 14-hit attack from Lenoir-Rhyne. Emily Hester
led the Pioneers at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with a run
scored, but Tusculum finished with just five hits in the game.
Tusculum starter Eliza Davis escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top
of the first, then avoided a run in the second as left fielder
Taylor Battle threw out Keller at the plate to end the inning. A
double-play grounder off the bat of Phillips ended the Lenoir-Rhyne
third, but the Pioneers could manage just one hit through three
innings against Bears starter Emily Kenley.
In the fourth, Lenoir-Rhyne scored three runs on a two-run single
by Madison Poe and an RBI double by Boone. The Pioneers' rally
began in the bottom of the fourth as Jordan Keene led off with a
single and Robin Stoner followed with a walk. Hester reached on an
infield single to load the bases for Treslyn Reese, who singled to
center to score pinch-runner Miranda Beeler and cut the Bears lead
to 3-1.
After a strikeout, Morgan Ward was hit by a pitch to force home
Stoner and pull the Pioneers within 3-2. Brandi Parks relieved
Kenley for Lenoir-Rhyne, but walked Rachel Wisner with the bases
loaded to bring home Hester and tie the score at 3-3.
The game remained tied untilt he top of the seventh, when the Bears
loaded the bases with no outs on three straight singles. Phillips
then singled up the middle to bring home two runs and give the
Bears a 5-3 lead, and a wild pitch from reliever Taylor Plemons
allowed another run to score and extend the Lenoir-Rhyne lead to
6-3.
Kenley worked 3 1/3 innings for the Bears, allowing four hits and
three earned runs with four strikeouts and two walks. Parks (8-0)
pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win, allowing one
hit and striking out three while walking a pair. Maryann Hoskins
came on in the seventh and pitched a perfect inning for her second
save of the year.
Davis (8-10) surrendered 14 hits and six runs (three earned) in
six-plus innings for the Pioneers, before giving way to Plemons who
was not charged with a run.
Game 2: Lenoir-Rhyne 2, Tusculum 1 - box score
Tusculum righthander Cayla Cecil took a 1-0 lead into the top of
the seventh, but the Bears scored twice to spoil the shutout and
escape with the sweep of the doubleheader. Meanwhile, Hoskins
struck out 10 and allowed four hits to improve her record to
8-4.
Tusculum scored its run in the bottom of the first inning as Taylor
Battle reached on an infield single then stole second base. When
the throw hit her leg and bounced into the outfield, Battle came
all the way around to score and give the Pioneers a quick 1-0
lead.
Cecil left two runners on base in the second and another in the
fifth, before running into a jam in the sixth. The Bears loaded the
bases on a walk to Carter, a single by Phillips and a single by
Sarah Kenley, but a line drive off the bat of Keller was hit right
at Carolyn Williamson in center field, who made the grab to keep
the Pioneers on top 1-0.
In the seventh, Poe reached on an error to lead off the inning and
Cassie Healy followed with a single. After a sacrifice from Boone
and a walk to Walker, Carter came through with a single to right
field to tie the game at 1-1. Phillips then delivered a sacrifice
fly to left to bring home Healy with the go-ahead run, and Hoskins
retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning.
Battle led the Pioneers at the plate by going 2-for-2 with a
sacrifice bunt and two stolen bases, giving her a SAC-leading 23
steals this season. Keene and Ward had the other hits for the
Pioneers, while Kenley paced the Bears at the plate in the nightcap
by going 2-for-3.
Cecil (5-4) was the hard-luck loser for the Pioneers, as she
allowed six hits and four walks while striking out two and not
allowing an earned run. Hoskins walked one and fanned 10 while
throwing 104 pitches in the complete-game effort for the Bears.