HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Lenoir-Rhyne University plays its 49th game of the season on Tuesday at home, facing Lander (S.C.) at 6 p.m. at Bears Field.
The Bears are 27-21 overall after splitting a South Atlantic Conference (SAC) home doubleheader on Saturday with Coker (18-25, 7-20).
Coker won the opening game 10-3, and LRU won the nightcap 17-3 behind a grand slam by Zach Shoemaker.
Coker 10, LRU 3
Coker took control with an eight-run fourth inning capped off by a bases-clearing double from Thomas Lopez, who finished with two doubles and four RBIs to lead the Cobras.
LRU junior outfielder Justin Dean drove in two runs while senior Matt Sullivan fell to 4-5 after taking a loss.
Coker’s Nick Taylor (3-5) earned a complete-game victory. He scattered six hits and struck out three.
LRU 17, Coker 3
Shoemaker, a junior catcher from Colfax, hit a grand slam and drove in six runs as the Bears scored the final 16 runs to salvage a split and snap a four-game losing streak.
Dean, who is hitting .404, added a two-run home run and junior first baseman Alex Reynolds scored four runs and had four hits as the Bears avoided a three-game sweep.
LRU sophomore Nolan Flachofsky improved to 3-0 after earning a win.
Coker’s Brooks Estrada drove in two runs while Michael Devecchio fell to 3-6 after taking a loss.
- Reported by LRU Sports Information