HICKORY, N.C. – Senior Betsy Shealy (Leesville, S.C.) connected with fellow senior Sarah Lynch (Pompano Beach, Fla.) for a play at the plate and the final out of game two, helping Newberry preserve a 3-2 victory over National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Div. II No. 17 Lenoir-Rhyne College at Bears Field this afternoon.  The Lady Indians tested the Bears in game one as well, but fell 1-0.  The loss is Lenoir-Rhyne’s first conference blemish of the year and their first in 19 tries.

With the win, Newberry improves to 16-27-1 overall and 2-6 in the South Atlantic Conference.  Lenoir-Rhyne falls to 39-7-1 overall and 7-1 in the SAC.

Newberry jumped on top first in the fourth inning after Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) started the inning with an infield single to third base.  Lynch followed with an RBI-double, scoring Jackson.  Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) added an RBI-single to center field, which scored Lynch. 

The Bears answered with a run in their half of the fourth when Leah Krohn scored Angela Beard on a single to shortstop.  Kirby struck out the second out and forced a ground out, stranding three L-R base runners. 

The Lady Indians added a much needed insurance run in the sixth after Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) scored pinch runner Allison Porter (Chapin, S.C.) with a foul ball sacrifice fly to left field.  Lenoir-Rhyne’s rally in the bottom of the seventh started with two base runners, which moved into scoring position after Karie Pushard’s sac bunt.  Kirby caught Beard looking, setting up the final out.  Chrissy Lunsford singled up the middle scoring Taylor Queen, but Hammond’s throw to first led to Shealy’s throw out of Brooke Starnes.

Although the Bears out hit Newberry 10-5, Kirby (9-12) added six strike outs to grab her ninth win of the season.  Despite recording 11 strike outs, Meredith O’Connor (14-2) picked up her second loss of the season. 

Game one turned out to be a pitching duel between Newberry starter Stephanie Monette (Conway, S.C.) and L-R hurler Casey Hanes.  Neither team made much of a threat in the first three innings as both teams finished with just three hits a piece.  The Lady Indians stranded a pair in the fourth while the Bears left three on base. 

Queen launched a triple to right center in the fifth and went on to score what would be the game winner after a costly Newberry throwing error.  The Lady Indians ended the fifth with a double play.  L-R left a pair in the sixth and Newberry did the same in the top of the seventh.  Kirby started the seventh with a single and Hammond followed with a walk.  Shealy moved the runners to second and third with a sac bunt, but the Lady Indians were unable to get the tying run across.

Despite picking up the loss, Monette (1-5) recorded her best outing of the year, including two strike outs and just three hits.  Kirby came on in relief late in the sixth.  Hanes (22-5), who struck out nine, picked up her 22nd win of the year in a complete game performance.

Up next for the Lady Indians is a home doubleheader with Tusculum College on April 8.  Game one is set to begin at 1 p.m.  Lenoir-Rhyne will also play on April 8 as they host Wingate University in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.