Lenoir-Rhyne Forces Winner-Take-All Game with Game 2 Victory Over Catawba

SALISBURY, N.C. – With their season on the line, No. 16 Lenoir-Rhyne responded in a big way, topping No. 4 Catawba 6-3 on Friday night at Newman Park to even the NCAA Division II Super Regional series and force a decisive Game 3 on Saturday.

Lenoir-Rhyne's offense came out strong and steady, striking for two runs in the first and adding to the lead across multiple innings. Cole Stanford provided the big swing with a three-run homer in the third, while Sal Carricato and Cole Laskowski also drove in key runs. Mackenzie Wainwright paced the Bears at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored.

William Girardi (12-2) delivered a quality start on the mound, tossing eight innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. Gavin Marley earned his ninth save of the season with a clean ninth inning, striking out two.

Catawba (46-13) was led offensively by James Dunlap, who went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a double. Matthew Connolly added a two-run single in the second inning to briefly give the Indians momentum, but Lenoir-Rhyne's arms and timely hitting proved too much to overcome. Starter Casey Gouge (6-3) took the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) over 3.2 innings.

The two teams will meet in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. with a trip to the NCAA Division II World Series on the line.