PEMBROKE – UNCP tallied its ninth double-digit hit outing of the season and looked to be in total control after a four-run first inning, but the third-ranked Braves needed some clutch pitching performances to hold off visiting Lenoir-Rhyne, 5-3, on Wednesday evening at Sammy Cox Field.

The triumph stretched UNCP's (11-1) home winning streak out to 18 games and gave the Braves their 12th-straight win over teams from the South Atlantic Conference – a string that dates back to the 2010 campaign. It was the seventh loss in the last nine outings for the Bears (3-12) who dipped to 1-3 all-time against the Black & Gold.

Eitan Maoz singled three times and doubled once to highlight a 4-for-5 hitting exhibition for UNCP, who also got a 2-for-4 plate performance from newcomer Drew Alford. Senior J.J. Williams homered once and scored twice on a 1-for-3 night at the plate for the Braves as well. Leadoff hitter Mike Gasque singled four time on five trips to the plate for Lenoir-Rhyne, while Stephan Arcieri walked four times to offset an 0-for-1 hitting line.

Reliever Patrick McMahon (1-0) struck out six and yielded just two hits across 3-2/3 innings from the hill to pick up the win for the Braves, while preseason all-American Braxton Lewis booked his third save in as many opportunities this season by striking out one in a scoreless ninth. Starter Ryan Reedy (0-3) saddled the loss for Lenoir-Rhyne after allowing five runs (four earned) on 11 hits and a pair of walks in 4-1/3 innings of work. He also struck out three.

The Bears used a walk and a pair of singles to load the bases with their first three at-bats of the contest, but came away with just one run in the top of the first. UNCP, likewise, loaded the bases with its first three at-bats in the bottom of the frame, but utilized a costly error by L-R to plate four runs and take a 4-1 lead into the second. A solo shot by Williams in the fifth would stretch that advantage out to 5-1.

The Bears struck for two runs off UNCP reliever Tyler Barnes in the sixth to make things interesting, but UNCP senior Brantley Hattrich and Lewis shut the Bears down the rest of the way out.

The hosts had plenty of opportunities to bust the game wide open, but left the bases loaded with one out in the third and then stranded a runner in scoring position with one out in both the fifth and sixth innings as well.

The Braves will step back into Peach Belt Conference play this weekend when they trek to Dahlonega, Ga., to face 26th-ranked North Georgia (7-2, 0-0 PBC)on Saturday and Sunday in a three-game set at Bob Stein Stadium.

To watch the full game click Part 1 or Part 2.