Hickory, N.C. – Lenoir-Rhyne College (11-2) split a softball doubleheader with Francis Marion University (10-4) Saturday afternoon (Feb. 23) at Bears Field in the 2008 Home Opener.  The Patriots took the first game 11-10 in eight innings, while the Bears were able to rally in the bottom of the seventh to win game two 7-6.

Game One – Francis Marion 11, Lenoir-Rhyne 10 (eight Innings)
After falling behind 8-2 after the first three innings of play, Lenoir-Rhyne scored two runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames to force extra innings with the score tied at eight.  With two outs in the top of the eighth, the Patriots scored three runs to take the lead highlighted by Monica Wofford’s two-run home run.   The Bears tried to rally with two runs in the bottom of the eighth but couldn’t plate the tying run.

Senior righty Melanie Bisek picked up the win for Francis Marion, while freshman Morgan Vickers suffered the loss.

Sophomore Michaela Wolf led the Patriots with three hits and three runs batted in, while Shannan Tyson added three hits and two RBIs including a lead-off home run.

Lenoir-Rhyne was led offensively by junior Noel Belk, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to tie the game at eight, and sophomore third baseman Lauren Johnson with three hits and two RBIs.

Game Two – Lenoir-Rhyne 7, Francis Marion 6
Lenoir-Rhyne rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and defeat the Patriots.  With one out and runners on second and third, freshman pinch hitter Brandi Haithcock hit a two-run triple to tie the game 6-6.  Haithcock then scored on a passed ball to give L-R the win.

Francis Marion staked itself to a 6-2 advantage after four and a half innings thanks to Bisek’s run-scoring single in the first inning and her two-run home run in the fourth inning.

Vickers (1-1) picked up the win, while Bisek (1-1) suffered the loss.  Bisek (two hits and four RBI) led Francis Marion offensively as well.

Senior catcher Karie Pushard hit a two-run home run in the first inning and finished with three RBIs, while senior first baseman Leah Krohn added three hits and two runs scored for the Bears.

Francis Marion continues its weekend road trip with a doubleheader at Catawba College on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.