Hickory, N.C. - After being swept at home for the first time this season, the Newberry Softball Team made their last road trip of the season to face the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears who were receiving votes in the latest NFCA poll. The Bears scored early and often and the Wolves could never seem to get a rally going as they fell twice to the second place team in the SAC.
Game One: Lenoir-Rhyne 10, Newberry 2 (F/5)
The Bears would strike quickly as they would use back to back home runs to take a 6-0 lead after the first inning. However, the Wolves would respond right back as Hannah Towery would take the first pitch of the second inning far beyond the right center field fence to get Newberry on the board at 6-1.
Unfortunately that would be all the offense the Wolves would get until the fifth inning as the Bears would plate three in the bottom of the second and one in the bottom of the third to make the score 10-1 the Wolves' backs against the wall in the top of the fifth, needing to score two times to escape the eight run rule.
Leah Evans would reach on a double and come home on a
Mallena Wright sacrifice fly but that would be as close as Newberry would get as the Bears would come away with the game one win.
Game Two: Lenoir-Rhyne 11, Newberry 2 (F/5)
The Bears would hit four home runs as they would score the first 11 runs of the game and would hold the Wolves offense to only 1 hit until the fifth inning. In the fifth inning, the Wolves would load the bases with a walk and singles by Lindsey Mitchell and Christine Butler which would result in Butler scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Reagan Smith but the Wolves would strand the bases loaded as the Bears would come away with a sweep.
Up Next:
The Wolves return home to the Smith Road Complex for their final two matchups of the season as they will face the Claflin Panthers on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader and then host Tusculum for the SAC Regular Season Finale with the Wolves needing at least one win to secure a spot in the SAC Tournament.
