Lauren Rakes domination in the circle continued on Friday as the senior threw her second straight one-hitter against visiting Davis & Elkins. Rakes stuck out 11 while only allowing a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth in an 8-0 win in game one. Rakes was equally hot at the plate as the senior had four hits including her first homerun of the season while adding three RBIs in the doubleheader sweep. In the nightcap, Kaylan Brown and Lora Beth Wood each had three RBIs as the Bears scored the last eleven runs to win 11-3.

In game one, Rakes helped herself to get the Bears on the board as she tripled to deep center then scored on Lora Beth Wood’s sac fly to center. Kaylan Brown kept things going with two outs after Wood’s flyout. Brown singled then stole second and came around to score on a Katelyn Rackard RBI single.

Rakes was perfect through 3 2/3 when Linzey Allard singled to right field to break up the perfect game. It was the Senators only hit of the game. A pitch hit, two-run single by Gianna Tamburello in the bottom of the 4th extended the lead to 4-0. The Bears added one more run on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-0 heading to the 5th.

In the bottom of the fifth, Rakes drilled a two-run bomb, her first of the year to push the lead to 7-0. Rackard’s second RBI ended the game via the mercy rule.

Rakes moves to 3-0 in the circle as the senior had her second straight one-hitter. Rakes struck out 11 in the five inning complete game shutout, her third shutout of the season and thirteenth of her career.

In game two, the Senators started game two with three straight singles as Allard drove in their first run of the game and day. After Allard’s single, Morgan Beeler settled down striking out the next three. A defensive error cost the Bears two runs in the top of the second as Davis & Elkins extended the lead to 3-0. This is the largest deficit for the Bears have faced this season so far.

A big two-out rally in the bottom of the second gave the Bears the lead back for good as LR scored four runs all with two outs. Brown had a two-run triple and scored on a wild pitch then Julia Mardigian had an RBI double to give the Bears the 4-3 lead. After an Wood’s RBI double in the 3rd, the Bears broke the game open with a three-spot in the fourth inning. Cassidy Wall had a two-run double and Rakes had her fourth hit of the day with an RBI single.

For the second straight game, the Bears scored three runs to end the game early via the mercy rule. This time Wood had a two-run double then Brown had an RBI single to send the crowd home happy with an 11-3 win after six innings. Beeler got her second win of the season in a complete game with 9 strikeouts. Beeler only allowed that one earned run in the first inning.

The Bears remain perfect all-time against Davis and Elkins. LR has won all six meetings between programs. This is the sixth straight season the Bears have won their home opener.

Rakes’ homerun was the senior’s 17th of her career. Talon LaClair went hitless to snap her four game hitting streak, which has her stuck at 195 career hits.

Lenoir-Rhyne is 6-0 to start the season.