HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Lenoir-Rhyne University heads into April atop the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) softball standings after sweeping Anderson (S.C.) in a doubleheader.
The Bears (30-5, 7-1) — whose next games are Monday at home (3 p.m.) against Lincoln Memorial in a conference doubleheader – improved to 16-0 in home games by beating Anderson 10-4 and 6-3 on Friday at Bears Field.
LRU is ranked No. 12 in NCAA Division II.
Anderson dropped to 24-8 overall and 6-2 in the SAC.
LRU 10, Anderson 4
Powered by three home runs – one each from freshman outfielder Savannah Moorefield and two from senior catcher Mackenzie Cates – the Bears won the first game of a twinbill.
Cates, who drove in four runs, now has a team-leading seven home runs on the year.
LRU took control with a six-run first inning.
Senior outfielder Christina Walker had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Bears’ 11-hit attack while junior Emily Kenley (15-2) pitched six scoreless innings in relief to pick up a win.
For Anderson, Abigail Webb had two hits and an RBI while Kayla Pepper fell to 8-4 after taking a loss.
LRU 6, Anderson 3
Back-to-back sacrifice flies by freshman first baseman Kylee Leonhardt and senior shortstop Madison Carter in the bottom of the fifth inning gave the Bears the lead for good at 4-3 before they added two runs in the sixth inning.
Leonhardt drove in two runs while junior Brandi Parks improved to 14-3 after going the distance. Parks allowed just one earned run.
Anderson’s Cailah Niles had an RBI double but Harlie Duncan fell to 10-2 after taking a pitching loss.
Erin Boone scored the game-winning run in Game 2, and she continues to lead the Bears in hitting at .438.
- Reported by LRU Sports Information