Softball earns ranked win in split at #22 Lenoir-Rhyne

Hickory, N.C. —- The Catawba College softball team picked up their second ranked win of the season on Wednesday afternoon in a doubleheader split at 22nd-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne in South Atlantic Conference softball action. The Catawba Indians move to 17-13 overall and 5-7 in the SAC, while the Bears move to 27-7 overall and 9-5 in league play.

Lenoir-Rhyne won the first game 9-0 in five innings as starter Morgan Beeler pitched a three-hit shutout. Alex Baquie took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in two innings of work.

Catawba turned the page in game two, racking up 11 hits. Riley Tucker went 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and a win in the circle. Molly Strider also recorded a pair of hits with two runs driven, while Kary Hales and Bri Gallagher also recorded two RBI on the game.

The Catawba Indians struck first in the top of the first, as Catawba put their first three runners on base. Courtnee Carter scored on a two-out passed ball, giving the visitors the early 1-0 lead. LR's Julia Mardigian answered with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning.

Catawba reclaimed their lead in the top of the third, as Strider scored Christina Brendle and Tucker on a two-out, two-run single up the middle. Hales doubled the lead in the fourth on yet another two-out, two-run single to center field with the bases loaded. Gallagher followed up the next batter with another two-run base hit up the middle to extend the Catawba lead to 7-1.

The Bears scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh and had the game-tying run at first base with nobody out. Baquie forced a double play on a lineout to Tucker at third base, who threw the game-tying run out at first base for a huge two outs in the innings. Baquie struck out the next batter to close out Catawba's ranked victory.

Catawba returns home to Whitley Field on Saturday, hosting Emory & Henry for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.