HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY –Lenoir-Rhyne University split a baseball doubleheader with Mars Hill on Saturday, moving within a win of 20 for the season.
The Lions won the first game on Saturday 11-6 before the Bears took the nightcap 4-3 at Bears Field.
LRU improved to 19-10 overall and 8-4 in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) and Mars Hill — coached by former Maiden High star Aaron Rembert — is 6-17-1 overall and 3-9 in the SAC.
The Bears go for their 20th win of the season on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Belmont, playing Belmont Abbey College in a non-league game.
Mars Hill 11, LRU 6
Trailing 3-1 after one inning, Mars Hill took control by scoring the next seven runs on its way to the win.
The Lions’ Matt Honeycutt led the way with five hits and four RBIs.
WHITSON
Junior outfielder Aaron Stamper hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season for LRU and finished with three runs batted in while junior designated hitter Caleb Beatty added three hits and two RBI for the Bears.
Mars Hill’s Alec Bivins (1-2) earned his first win of the year after going six innings while senior Matt Sullivan (3-1) was tagged with the loss for LRU.
LRU 4, Mars Hill 3
Junior first baseman Alex Reynolds came through with the game-winning, two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Bears rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win.
Sophomore John Grigg improved to 5-0 by earning a win. He allowed one earned run and struck out 10 over six innings before senior Landon Whitson pitched a scoreless seventh inning for his seventh save of the year.
Mars Hill’s Travis Owens hit a solo home run while Mike Ramunno fell to 0-2 after taking a loss for the Lions.
Whitson’s seven saves ties him with Josh Keller (2007) for most in a season for LRU.
- Reported by LRU Sports Information