NEWBERRY, S.C. – Lenoir-Rhyne pitcher Alexis Kreske (Miami, Fla.) faced just two batters above the minimum in a three-hit shutout, leading Lenoir-Rhyne College to a 7-0 win over host Newberry College Wednesday afternoon.  In the nightcap, designated player Karie Pushard (Harrisburg, N.C.) sent two home runs over the left field wall, driving in three runs that would make the difference in the 6-3 Bear win.

L-R got the offense started in the second inning, as both Pushard and Lindsay DeHart (Graham, N.C.) drove in runs.  The visitors would have scored another if not for the quick reflexes of Newberry catcher Sarah Lynch (Pompano Beach, Fla.), who tracked down a wild pitch and threw home to nail the Bear baserunner at the plate.  Lenoir-Rhyne managed a pair of two-out singles to score another run in the third.  The guests used another two-out surge in the fifth, getting doubles from Leah Krohn (Taylorsville, N.C.), Pushard, and Brooke Starnes (Conover, N.C.) to produce four runs and push the lead to 7-0, the final margin.

Only three hits, a walk, and an error separated Kreske (18-7) from a perfect game.  Three of the five Newberry baserunners were erased by a double play, a pickoff, and a throwout on a base overrun.  Only once did a Lady Indian reach as far as third base.  Kayce McLeod (Newberry, S.C.) was saddled with the loss, dropping to 6-11 for the year.

Game two was a more even contest through six innings.  Lenoir-Rhyne used a RBI single from Chrissy Lunsford (Tyrone, Ga.) in the third and a solo homer from Pushard in the fourth to obtain a two-run lead.  Newberry drew even in the bottom of the fourth as McLeod drove in Lynch, and Amanda Budka (Scotia, N.Y.) sacrificed to bring in Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.).

L-R first baseman Krohn singled to drive in one run, then later scored off an Indian error, to answer in the fifth.  Lynch drew Newberry to within one run with a double that plated Ashleigh Anderson (Barnwell, S.C.).  Going into the seventh, Newberry trailed only 4-3, but hopes of a comeback were cooled by Pushard’s second longball with a runner on board.

Bear pitcher Kristin Duvall (Pasadena, Md.) improved to 11-2 with her four-inning, three-hit performance.  Kreske recorded the save, her second of the year.  Kirby dropped to 10-12.

Newberry hosts USC Aiken Friday afternoon at 2:30, while Lenoir-Rhyne’s next action is at Wingate Saturday at 1 o’clock.