HobbsDailyReport.com
CHARLOTTE – Powered by six home runs, Lenoir-Rhyne University swept Queens on Tuesday, winning 11-6 and 20-3, to wrap up at least a share of this season’s South Atlantic Conference (SAC) regular-season softball title.
LRU improved to 38-5 overall and is 15-1 in the SAC while Queen dipped to 31-11, 7-7.
The SAC share will be LRU’s 12th title, all of them since 2000 and seventh since 2010.
The Bears have won 12 straight games as they head to play Carson-Newman in a league doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m.
LRU 11, Queens 6
The Bears hit five home runs, including two by senior second baseman Madison Poe. She hit a grand slam in the second inning and finished with six RBIs.
Freshman first baseman Kylee Leonhardt, sophomore designated player Mackensi Swain and junior outfielder Erin Boone also hit home runs for the Bears, who won despite allowing a six-run third inning.
Junior Emily Kenley (19-2) came on in relief to earn a win. She allowed just one unearned run on three hits with five strikeouts in five innings.
For Queens, Kelly Winter drove in two runs while Ali Celiberti fell to 5-2 with a loss.
LRU 20, Queens 3
The Bears had season-highs for hits (17) and runs.
LRU was led by senior catcher Mackenzie Cates, who went 4-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBIs.
Kenley (20-2) earned a victory.
Queens’ Abby Lathan hit a solo home run while Courtney Pearson fell to 13-7 after taking a loss.
The 20 runs are the most by the Bears since they beat Bluefield State 21-0 in February of 2016.
— Reported by LRU Sports Information