HICKORY, N.C.- The Lenoir-Rhyne University Softball Team (5-1) took a doubleheader sweep from Queens University of Charlotte (1-5) Friday afternoon at Bears Field by scores of 7-3 and 7-5. The contests marked the 2009 home opener for the Bears.
Game One Lenoir-Rhyne 7, Queens 3
After playing two and a half innings of scoreless softball, the Bears struck with three runs in the bottom of the third. Brittany Cherry (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Carolina Forest HS) hit a triple down the right field line and was driven in on the next at bat by Noel Belk (Charlotte, N.C./Queens). L-R would plate two more runners in the frame as well.
In the fourth, a single by Sarah Atkins (Newport News, Va./Warwick HS) scored Erin Evans (Fort Pierce, Fla./Indian River CC) from third base to make the score 4-0 in favor of the Bears.
Lenoir-Rhyne pushed its lead out to 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a three-run home run from Kat Rivers (Royston, Ga./Franklin County HS) that sailed over the wall in left centerfield.
Queens would not be left off the scoreboard, however. In the top of the seventh frame, the Royals plated three runs for the final, 7-3, margin in an inning highlighted by a two-run double down the left field line by Kari Kmetic (Milwaukie, Ore., Putnam)
Belk also took the win on the mound to improve to 3-0 on the year for L-R while Chantel Dodge (Shalimar, Fla., Choctawatchee) suffered the loss for Queens, falling to 1-3.
Game Two Lenoir-Rhyne 7, Queens 5
Queens jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Megan Campbell (Raleigh, N.C., Athens Drive )circled the bases thanks to two L-R errors and two sacrifice bunts from her teammates.
Lenoir-Rhyne answered in the bottom of the frame and took a lead. With the bases loaded, Carpenter hit a single to right field, driving in Cherry and Belk to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Bears. Back-to-back doubles by Evans and Cherry in the second gave L-R its third run of the game and extended the lead to 3-1.
Trailing 5-1 heading into the fourth, the Bears' pitcher Dawon Millwood (Hixson, Tenn./Hixson HS) slipped up and walked three batters. A fielding error allowed for the runners to get around and Brittany Stephens (Charlotte, N.C., Hickory Grove Baptist) was able to score on a wild pitch, closing the gap to 5-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Lenoir-Rhyne added two more runs.
Queens would make a run in the top of the fifth, a double by Mary Lee Giurintano (Greensboro, N.C. , Glenn ) helped to put Keeya Turner (Fayetteville, N.C., 71st ) into scoring position. Alisha Waldrop (McDonough, GA , Luella ) grounded out, but allowed Turner to cross the plate. Stephens again was able to help Queens, this time by hitting a double to drive in Guirintano. Stephens would round the bases and score an unearned run by the end of the inning. Queen was now just down by two with two innings two play.
Unfortunately the Bears defense only allowed for one Queens runner to get on base in the last two innings.
Stephens suffered the loss for Queens, falling to 0-2 on the year. Millwood moved to 2-0 with the win for the Bears while Belk picked up the save with two innings of work in relief.
Queens will play UNC-Pembroke on Sunday in Pembroke, N.C. First pitch is set for 1pm.
