Cary, N.C.– Nothing comes easy at this stage of the game, and Sunday night proved that. Despite an early 6-0 lead, Lenoir-Rhyne had to work to fend off a late-inning rally from #2 seeded Central Missouri. In the end, Hickory native Gavin Marley came through with 2.2 innings of no-hit work to seal a 12-9 Bears win.
Hogan Stallings launched a grand slam in the first inning to set the tone, and Sal Carricato hit his 26th home run of the year in the fourth to add to LR’s record breaking season total.
Lenoir-Rhyne advances to Wednesday’s 1:30 game, where they will play the winner of Central Missouri and East Stroudsburg. In the drivers seat, one win would send the Bears to a best-of-three championship series this upcoming weekend. Either the Mules or Warriors would have to beat the Bears twice to knock them out. East Stroudsburg stayed alive today with a walk-off victory over Northwood in the early game.