NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team split a doubleheader with nationally-ranked No. 12 Lenoir-Rhyne University by scores of 4-7 and 3-1. Newberry moves to 6-2 in the South Atlantic Conference as Lenoir-Rhyne takes a 6-4 conference record.

Picking up the victory for Newberry was Amanda Huckestein (Port Charlotte, Fla.) as she struck out ten batters in 8.1 innings of work. Huckestein's record improved to 15-3, which moves her into a third-place tie for most victories in a season with Christina Kirby.

Game One: No. 12 Lenoir-Rhyne 7, Newberry 4 -
Box ScoreNewberry held the lead in the opening game for the majority of the contest, but was unable to cap the game with a victory as LR scored four runs in the sixth inning to take the opener.

The Bears struck first as they took a 1-0 lead in the first off a sacrifice fly to rightfield by Kat Rivers (Royston, Ga.) scoring Brittany Cherry (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), who reached on a leadoff double to right-centerfield.

Newberry answered LR's opening-inning run with two of their own as Huckestein singled up the middle with the bases loaded to score Aissa Gatewood (N. Charleston, S.C.) and Richelle Mirabal (Tampa, Fla.).

With a 2-1 lead, NC added to its lead in the following inning as Huckestein once again came up with the bases loaded and came away with another RBI as she drew a walk scoring Amy Jarrell (Dover, Del.), who reached on a single up the middle.

Sara Powell (Ocean View, Del.) followed Huckestein with a single to the shortstop that scored Gatewood and gave the scarlet and gray the 4-1 lead.

LR tallied one run in the third as Sarah Atkins (Newport News, Va.) hit a homerun down the left-field line to narrow Newberry's lead to 4-2.

In the sixth inning, the Bears scored four runs to take a 6-4 lead, which they wouldn't relinquish as they held on to win 7-4 in the day's opening game.

Taking the loss for Newberry was Hicks as her record dropped to 10-7 on the year. LR's Dawon Millwood (Hixson, Tenn.) moved to 13-1 on the year.

Leading Newberry in hitting in the game was Huckestein, who went 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Jarrell also had a 2-for-3 performance in game one, which included one run scored.

Game Two: Newberry 3, No. 12 Lenoir-Rhyne 1 - Box Score
The scarlet and gray took revenge on the Bears in game two as Newberry scored two late runs in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and secure the series split. The victory was Newberry's first of the season over a ranked opponent.

Newberry led throughout most of game two as Huckestein struck once again in the first inning with a double down the left field line scoring Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.), who reached on a two-out single to leftfield.

With a 1-0 lead to work with Huckestein struck out five straight batters from the second to the fourth inning. In total, Huckestein finished the game with nine strikeouts, which moved her into sole possession of fourth place for most strikeouts in a season with 135.

Lenoir-Rhyne was able to get one run on the board in the fifth inning as Noel Belk (Charlotte, N.C.) singled to rightfield scoring Erin Evans (Fort Pierce, Fla.) on the play.

However, Newberry marched back into the lead in the sixth inning as Hammond led off with a single and was then replaced by pinch-runner Jessica Teague (Charlotte, N.C.). A Huckestein double scored Teague from first base to give NC the 2-1 lead over the 12th ranked Bears.

Chelsie Hilbourn (Loris, S.C.) followed Huckestein's lead with a double off her own to centerfield scoring Huckestein and giving NC a 3-1 advantage going into the final inning.

Despite a single from Brandi Haithcock (Snow Camp, N.C.) to start the inning, Newberry retired three straight batters to clinch the victory in the second game of the day.

Hammond and Huckestein both went 2-for-3 in the game with one run score apiece as Huckestein had two RBIs to go along with the victory.

Newberry now stands in second place in the SAC as Lenoir-Rhyne is in fourth place.

NC returns to action on Friday as they take on the Eagles of Carson-Newman on April 10 at 1 p.m. Carson-Newman is currently 5-5 in the SAC and will host Newberry in Jefferson City, Tenn.