Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball Takes Series Finale over Catawba
SALISBURY, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball Team closed out its three-game series against Catawba, with a 12-8 victory, as eight different players contributed with runs batted in.
Bryce Stober and Hogan Stallings led the way for the Bears as each of them drove in two runs. Both scored a pair with 2-RBI singles as Stober collected a knock in the fifth while Stallings notched his mark in the seventh.
The Bears capitalized on the right opportunities as they scored all their runs in the second, fifth and seventh innings. In each frame, the Bears tallied four runs to keep their distance away Catawba and never trail throughout the afternoon.
In addition to eight different players driving in a run, nine LR players recorded at least a hit in the contest. Owen Blackledge led the team with two hits, as the Canton, Ohio native recorded a couple of singles.
With the victory, LR was able to avoid the sweep and collect its first road win of conference play this season.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 12, Catawba 8
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (13-6, 4-5), Catawba (12-6, 3-3)
Location: Salisbury, N.C. | Newman Park
STATS AND INFO
Sal Carricato blasted a solo home run in the second inning, which gave the Bears the 1-0 advantage. The Long Island, N.Y. native now leads the team with five home runs.
The Bears were hit four times inside the batter’s box. Khi Holiday had it the worst with two hit by pitches, while Cole Laskowski and Zach Evans were struck once.
Cole Bramhall earned the win in his first decision of the season. The Tucson, Ariz. native pitched 1.2 innings and allowed only a single run and hit.
Four Bears touched home on two separate occasions. Ironically, it was the 4-5-6-7 part of the order with Carricato, Holiday, Blackledge, and Evans.
It was one of the more discplined team performances at the plate for the Bears as they only suffered four total strikeouts. That is the second lowest total in a conference game this season.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
LR garnered its 110th victory over Catawba, but the Bears still trail 145-110 in the all-time series.
Sunday’s matchup also marked the 100th time that LR and Catawba have competed against each other as conference opponents.
The Bears handed Catawba its first home loss of the season at Newman Park. The Indians were 7-0 at home prior to Sunday.
This was the first time that LR has won a conference game in Salisbury, N.C. since March 6, 2020. The Bears won that game, 4-2.
The 12-run performance was the most LR has scored in a game at Salisbury, N.C. since March 23, 2010, when the Bears were defeated, 18-17, by the Indians.
UP NEXT: The LenoirRhyne Baseball Team will take a break from conference play as the Bears venture out to Wilson, N.C. to face Barton on Tuesday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m. LR is 5-1 against Barton on the road in its all-time series history.