The Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball Team got back into the win column with a statement 22-7 victory over Mars Hill.

After being swept at home last weekend, the bats awoke for the Bears with their most runs (22) and hits (21) in a single game this season including a 15-run margin of victory, tying their largest margin of victory against a SAC opponent in the year.

Six Bear batters had multiple hits, but no one had a bigger day than Sal Carricato who went 5-6 at the plate and recorded four runs and two RBIs. The redshirt sophomore had a home run and four singles to end with eight total bases.

While the score speaks for itself, the game was not as smooth as the Bears were expecting out of the gates with the Lions recording six runs in the first two innings. But after their five-run first inning, the LR offense did not let their foot off the gas with scoring 17 of the final 18 runs.

Andy Cook (W, 3-1) had a strong showing out the bullpen as the redshirt junior went for his longest outing from the bullpen with a four-inning performance. The Hickory, N.C. native put a stop to the strong Lions’ start by only allowing one run and four hits.

Blake Bean recorded a lead-off double in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 14. Tyler McPeak launched a three-run home run in the third inning to make it four consecutive games with a home run; the graduate student now has 11 on the season.

Bryce Stober led the team with four RBIs on 3-4 hitting; in addition to his successful day of driving in runs, there were four Bears who drove in three runs: McPeak, Wade Cuda, Zach Evans, and Cole Laskowski. It was a busy day for the Mars Hill bullpen as the Lions used eight different pitchers. The Bears did not have quite the same carousel with only five pitchers.

LR recorded their most doubles in a single game with seven. Evans played a big part with three two-baggers of his own.

This was the 100th meeting the two schools in the NCAA era; LR now leads the series, 63-37. LR earned their 60th victory over Mars Hill as conference opponents with this result; their current conference record in 60-36.

With this win, the Bears now have won six-straight games against the Lions. It is LR’s longest win-streak over the Lions since the eight-game win streak from March 16, 1997 through March 28, 1999. LR’s 22 runs is the most the Bears have scored against Mars Hill in a single game during the NCAA era.

The Bears are in a good position to win their first series against Mars Hill in Hickory, N.C. since taking two of three in their series at Durham Field on March 16-17, 2018.

The Bears are 23-8 overall, 7-3 in the South Atlantic Conference. LR will conclude their eight-game home stand and three-game series against Mars Hill Saturday at Durham Field with a doubleheader. First pitch for Game 1 is slated for 1:00 p.m. The second game will start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.