HICKORY, N.C. -- Ferrum College dropped a non-conference baseball game to Lenoir-Rhyne University Tuesday afternoon on the road, falling 12-1 at Durham Field. The Bears are currently ranked #16 in NCAA Division II baseball.

RECORDS
#16 Lenoir-Rhyne 33-10-1
Ferrum 17-25

THE BASICS
Lenoir-Rhyne surged ahead early and never looked back, scoring 10 runs over the first three innings to seize control. The Bears struck for four runs in the opening frame, taking advantage of a Ferrum error and a two-run single from Drew Beard. They added three more runs in the second inning, highlighted by a two-run triple from Lleyton Lackey, and tacked on three additional runs in the third to build a commanding 10-0 lead.

Ferrum broke through in the fourth inning when CJ Kemmerer delivered a ground-rule double to right center, driving in JJ Mulhern for the Panthers' lone run of the day. That would be the only offensive highlight as Ferrum managed just four hits. Lenoir-Rhyne added insurance runs in the sixth inning with RBI singles from Andrew Stillinger and Sylas Boris to cap the scoring at 12-1.

On the mound, Kaleb Tischler absorbed the loss after allowing eight earned runs over three innings. Carter Liverman provided two scoreless innings of relief, while Connor Courtney allowed two runs in the final inning of work. Lenoir-Rhyne starter Hugo Tafoya earned the win, limiting Ferrum to one run on two hits over four innings while striking out five.

KEY STATS
Lenoir-Rhyne: Mackenzie Wainwright 3-4; Andrew Stillinger 2-4, 2 RBI; Conor Linkfield 3-4, RBI; Lleyton Lackey 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI
Ferrum: Kemmerer 1-3, 2B, RBI; Hunter Carlson 1-2, 2B; Matthew Graham 1-1

UP NEXT
Coach Eric Owens' team will be back action Friday and Saturday, April 24-25, at home in a Conference Carolinas three-game series with University of Mount Olive. The Panthers will play a single nine-inning game Friday at 4:00 p.m., then play the Trojans in two games Saturday, starting at noon.