Erin Boone, a senior from Creedmore, became the all-time hits leader for Lenoir-Rhyne University on Thursday in a home sweep of Augusta. The Bears’ next games are Saturday at Mars Hill./LENOIR-RHYNE PHOTO
LRU SCHEDULE: https://lrbears.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=198
SAC STANDINGS: https://www.thesac.com/sports/sball/2018-19/standings
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Lenoir-Rhyne University reached 20 wins in women’s softball on Thursday on a special day for outfielder Erin Boone.
The Bears beat visiting Augusta twice by 9-1 scores — improving to 20-10 — as Boone, a senior from Creedmor and South Granville High, became the school’s all-time leading hitter.
BOONE
Boone’s 269th career hit, a walk-off home run in the opening game, eclipsed a record previously held by Brittany Cherry (268, set in 2010).
Augusta dropped to 3-23 and has lost its last 12 games.
LRU has won four straight games heading into conference games on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mars Hill.
LRU 9, Augusta 1
The Bears scored four runs in the first inning, two on a double by Talon LaClair, en route to winning the second game on Thursday.
LaClair scored in the opening inning on a triple by Kelly Leonhardt and Leanna Sherrill’s RBI sacrifice fly scored Leonhardt.
Boone drove in a run in the second inning with a sacrifice fly for LRU, making it 5-1, and Sherrill’s third inning home run down the left field line in made it 7-1.
Boone homered in the fourth inning, finishing with two runs scored and two RBIs. The runs tied her for LRU’s all-time record for a career at 201.
LRU 9, Augusta 1
Savannah Moorefield hit a game-starting home run and Boone homered to right field as the Bears started with back-to-back long balls.
Leonhardt added a two-run home run that gave LRU a 5-0 lead, and Mackensi Swain’s two-run shot pushed the lead to 7-0.
Senior Brandi Parks did not allow a hit through 5 2/3 innings but Augusta’s Lauren Presscott then hit a solo home run. Parks allowed two hits and struck out three, pushing her record to 13-5.
Boone batted in the bottom of the sixth inning with a runner on and homered to left-center to invoke the mercy rule. She want 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
LRU 14, Catawba 5, 5 inn. (Tuesday)
The Bears had 12 hits en route to a South Atlantic Conference (SAC) win that provided a home sweep over Catawba (16-13, 4-4).
LRU scored a run in the first innings, five in the second inning, sixth in the third inning and two in the fourth inning.
Moorefield scored four runs and Sherrill hit a home run and had five RBIs and LaClair drove in three runs.
Swain added three RBIs and Boone went 2-for-4, scoring twice and driving in two runs.
Macie Gibons and Cassie Healy, batting No. 8 and No. 9 for the Bears, each went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.
Emily Kenley was the winning pitcher, striking out two over five innings.
LRU 1, Catawba 0 (Tuesday)
Parks spun seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six, to spark the opening game win.
Catawba did not get a runner past second base.
LRU had only three hits but drew nine walks and left the bases full in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Moorefield led off the seventh inning with a four-pitch walk and moved over when Boone bunted for a base hit. LaClair then singled to load the bases.
When Leonhardt hit a ball down the line at third base, a play was made at third but Moorefield beat the throw home for the game’s only run.
- Reported by LRU Sports Information