Lauren Rakes and Talon LaClair hit grand slams as the Lenoir-Rhyne Softball team defeated Coker 9-0 in both games on Friday afternoon. Rakes and Morgan Beeler allowed just five hits in the circle as the duo each picked up a complete game shutout on the afternoon. LaClair finished the day 3-5 with a homerun and 6 RBIs.

In game one, the Bears did all their damage in two innings as LR scored four in the third then put the game away with a five spot in the fifth. Three RBI singles highlighted the three-run third as Talon LaClair, Julia Mardigian, and Lora Beth Wood drove in runs.

RBIs singles become RBI doubles in the fifth as LaClair, Cassidy Wall, and Lauren Rakes had extra base hits in the fifth. Gianna Tamburello then finished the scoring with her first career homerun as the freshman put the Bears up 9-0.

Morgan Beeler threw her third shutout in the last 14 days as the senior allowed three hits and struck out seven. Eight starters recorded a hit lead by two from LaClair and Katelyn Rackard.

In game two, the Bears broke out in the third inning after a scoreless first two frames. Wall delivered a RBI single to open the scoring then Rakes cleared the bases with a grand slam to give the Bears a 5-0 lead. Rakes homerun was her sixth of the season.

LaClair then match Rakes with a grandslam in the 4th inning to give the Bears an identical 9-0 win from earlier in the day. LR had just six hits in the second game as no one has multiple hits in the contest.

Rakes allowed just two hits and struck five in the five-inning complete game shutout.

LaClair extended her hitting streak to six with her 3-5 day. Her grand slam was her second of the year.

The grand slam by Rakes was her first of her career and her 22nd career bomb. Her shutout in the circle was her 14th career shutout, five this season.

For the second straight SAC series, weather played a role. Friday’s games were schedule for Saturday but moved up a day due to rain overnight. The Bears have won six in a row against the Cobras. During the six game winning streak the Bears have only allowed five runs total, less then a run a game.

The Bears are still one game behind Carson-Newman and Wingate in the loss column at the top of the SAC standings.

Lenoir-Rhyne is 26-6 overall, 8-4 in the South Atlantic Conference. Catawba comes to Hickory on Tuesday for a doubleheader starting at 3:00 PM.