WISE, VA — Behind two crucial home runs from Lenoir-Rhyne's Kylie Leonhardt and an 18-strikeout day from Lauren Rakes, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears swept the UVA Wise Cavaliers in 5-0 and 8-2 fashion on Saturday, April 2.
GAME BY GAME
UVA Wise (15-13, 7-9 SAC) fell behind the Bears (28-9, 13-3 SAC) early in the first inning of game one after Leonhardt changed the game with a two-run homer to right field. In the circle, McKenna Falwell forced a quick strikeout, a groundout, and a pop-up to get the Cavaliers out of the half-inning.
UVA Wise attempted a response as two Cavaliers — Jenna McDermott and Kaylee Jones — forced a walk each from three-time SAC Pitcher of the Week Lauren Rakes. Rakes eventually eliminated the Cavalier threat without a trace as she struck out Sarah Barrett and Kara Long to give the Bears their bats.
The Bears and the Cavs were silent in the batter's box for the entirety of the second inning as neither squad produced a hit or got on base.
The Bears soon made some noise at Cavalier Field as Katelyn Rackard and Savannah Moorehead hit back-to-back singles in the top of the third. Leonhardt once again came in to clean the bases as she carried another home run onto the opposite side, putting her team up 5-0.
Rakes and Leonhardt were a lethal duo of offense and defense as Rakes ended game one with 12 strikeouts and Leonhardt grabbed five RBIs.
The Cavaliers wouldn't reach the scoreboard, but McDermott, Long, and Alexis Miles landed a hit each. Falwell would strike out eight Bears in seven innings.
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In game two, roles reversed as a leadoff McDermott walk, two Lenoir-Rhyne errors, and a Mallory McKnight sacrifice fly led the way for a 1-0 Cavalier lead.
The Cavaliers held their 1-0 lead until the top of the third inning when four Bears hits turned into four Bears runs with the help of a Julia Mardigian home run.
The Cavaliers found ammunition in the bottom of the fourth after Michaela Barney fired a solo shot to center to put the score at 4-2.
Leann Sherrill and Rakes would turn Lenoir-Rhyne's two-run lead to four in the top of the sixth inning with a dinger each.
Lenoir-Rhyne would go on to extend their lead to six runs in the top of the seventh with two hits from Mardigian and Cassidy Wall and seal an 8-2 Bears win.
The Cavaliers would leave 12 runners on base in game two, but produce five hits and two RBIs.
After the doubleheader, the Cavaliers sit at a 15-13 overall record and fall to 7-9 in conference play.
UP NEXT
Next, the Cavaliers play at home on April 9 against Tusculum with 1:00 and 3:00 PM start times.
