BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College Softball team (12-2, 0-6 SAC) fell to the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne (30-7, 3-1 SAC) in Saturday's conference doubleheader.
The Bear's pitching threw two shutouts to help Lenoir-Rhyne to two run-rule victories. The LR took game one, 11-0 in six innings and kept the momentum going in game two with an 8-0 victory in five innings.
Sophomore pitcher Ricki Kuhn (Newton, N.C.) suffered both losses. Senior Lauren Parker came onto throw the final inning of game one.
Game 1: Lenoir-Rhyne 11 - Brevard 0
Lenoir-Rhyne's Brandi Parks dazzled in the circle to earn her 18th win of the season. Parks threw six innings scattered three hits and striking out eight.
The Bears were led by the top of their line up with Erin Boone and Savannah Davis both finishing 4-3. Brevard's three hits came off the bats of Lauren Parker (Charlotte, N.C.), Katlin Burns (Lawndale, N.C.), and Brittan Miller (James Island, S.C.) each finishing with a hit.
Lenoir-Rhyne got things going in the top of the first as Boone led off with a triple to right center. Davis drove her in with a single up the middle. Kuhn kept the Bears' silenced in the second inning, retiring LR in order. The Bears added three more runs in the top of the third with three more runs on three hits.
Katlin Burns had Brevard's first hit in the fifth inning with a single to left field. Parker and Miller followed in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles. Parker used her speed for an infield single. Miller followed with a bullet to second base. The Tornados were unable to reach the board during the inning, leading LR to the run-rule win.
Game 2: Lenoir-Rhyne 8 - Brevard 0
Brevard had runners on base in the bottom of the first, after surrendering a run in the top of the first. Lauren Parker reached base after being hit by a pitch. Brittan Miller moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. Ashleigh Ivey (Concord, N.C.) and Amber Hong (Graniteville, S.C.) each reached base on walks. However, the Tornados were unable to come away with run.
Kuhn kept LR's bats silenced in the second. The Bears added three runs in the third off four hits and four more runs in the fifth to capture the win 8-0. Ty Triplett earned her eighth win of the season, tossing all five innings allowing one hit and striking out five.
Ricki Kuhn had Brevard's only hit with a double down the left field line in the bottom of the fifth.
The Tornados will have a quick turnaround as they return to conference play on Monday. Brevard will travel to Carson-Newman for a doubleheader beginning at 1 and 3 p.m.