HobbsDailyReport.com
ASHEBORO – Lenoir-Rhyne University reached six wins for the season after splitting a baseball doubleheader on Tuesday with Barton at McCrary Park.
The Bears won the opening seven-inning game 9-3 before the Bulldogs prevailed in the nightcap, also a seven-inning game, 6-4.
The split left LRU at 6-2 and Barton fell to 4-5.
LRU 9, Barton 3
Trailing 2-0, the Bears took control by scoring eight straight runs, highlighted by a four-run third inning that gave LRU the lead for good.
Junior outfielder Justin Dean (Mauldin, S.C.) hit a solo home run to lead off the third inning and finished with two hits and two RBIs. Junior catcher Zack Shoemaker added two hits and drove in two runs.
Jake Conroy, a junior, earned a win and sophomore Brett Fulk struck out six over three innings to earn a save.
For Barton, Colby Warren hit a solo home run while Clay Walters (0-1) suffered the setback.
Barton 6, LRU 4
The Bulldogs took control early with a three-run first inning and never trailed.
Warren again led Barton’s offense, finishing with two hits and two RBIs. He also picked up a save for the Bulldogs’ Landry Moore.
LRU was led by senior catcher Cole Fowler with a run-scoring double and redshirt freshman third baseman Will Jones drove in a run in each contest.
Sophomore Alex Shirazi (0-1) took the pitching loss.
Next game: The Bears are at home at 5 p.m. on Wednesday to face Limestone.
— Reported by LRU Sports Information