Hickory, N.C.----The number 12 Lenoir-Rhyne University softball team took over sole possession of first place in the South Atlantic Conference with a doubleheader sweep of Wingate University 6-2 and 8-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Bears Field. The second game was halted after six innings. L-R increased its winning streak to 10 games in the process.

Game #1
Lenoir-Rhyne 6, Wingate 2

Sophomore infielder Jessica Fellmeth (Waxhaw, N.C.) went three-for-four with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne attack. Freshman infielder Hailey Jarman (Wadesboro, N.C.) went two-for-two with a homer and two runs scored while junior outfielder Tameron Sealey (Mount Holly, N.C.) drove in a pair of runs for the Bears.

Sophomore first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) had a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Senior infielder Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) went one-for-one with a run scored, while also drawing three walks. Junior infielder Maureen Sandidge (Venice, Fla.) went one-for-two with a double for the Bulldogs.

The Bears got on the board first in the second, getting an RBI single from Sealey. An RBI double from Fellmeth gave Lenoir-Rhyne a 2-0 lead in the third. The Bulldogs tied it in the fourth when Loudermilt connected on a two-run homer to right center to make it 2-2.

Lenoir-Rhyne posted the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Fellmeth reached on an error to start the frame. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. One batter later, L-R junior pinch-hitter Brittany Davidson (Fort Defiance, Va.) delivered an RBI single to left field to plate the game-winning run.

LRU plated three insurance runs in the sixth inning. Jarman got the scoring started with a solo homer. Fellmeth added an RBI single, while the final run of game one scored when Sealey drew a bases-loaded walk.

Both teams had plenty of opportunities in game one. The Bulldogs left 12 on base, leaving the bases loaded in the first, fifth and seventh innings. The Bears left 14 on base in the first game. Junior right-hander Dawon Millwood (Hixson, Tenn.) got the win, allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings of work, striking out four and walking seven to improve to 12-3 overall. Senior right-hander Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) took the loss, falling to 11-4 overall on the year. She allowed five runs on 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out two.

Game #2
Lenoir-Rhyne 8, Wingate 0 (six innings)

Lenoir-Rhyne junior Lauren Harris (Yadkinville, N.C.) won her 10th straight decision with a seven-hit shutout of the Bulldogs. Harris (10-1 overall) struck out two batters Wednesday. Freshman outfielder Jody Mizelle (Colerain, N.C.) led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run, her team-leading 12th of the year. Mizelle finished with two hits and three RBI to lead Lenoir-Rhyne.

The Bears broke the contest open with four runs in the bottom of the second inning, including a two-run double by Mizelle. L-R closed out the contest with two runs in its half of the sixth inning, including Davidson’s game-ending sacrifice fly.

Sealey added three hits and two runs scored and Jarman hit another solo home run for the Bears, who improved to 8-1 at home in 2011. Wingate freshman pitcher Ashley Brown (Murrells Inlet, S.C.) suffered the loss. She is 5-4 overall for the Bulldogs.

Lenoir-Rhyne hosts Tusculum College in a conference doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Wingate returns home to take on league oe Mars Hill College in a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.