Railsplitters & Lions Split SAC Double-Header

HARROGATE, TN - After having a three-game conference series postponed until Sunday and reduced to only two games due to rainy conditions throughout the tri-state area, neither the Railsplitters or the Lions were able to make up any ground in the South Atlantic Conference race on Sunday afternoon as the two league opponents split a double-header. 

LMU came from behind to take an 8-5 win in Sunday's first game, while Mars Hill held off the Railsplitters in extra inning of game-two to come away with a 4-3 win.

The Lions took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of Sunday's opening game on an RBI double down the left field line by Devin Pressnell and an RBI single to right center by Mike Kitt. 

Mars Hill's lead stood until the bottom of the second inning when the Railsplitters capitolized in their second appearance at the plate with a solo homerun by designated hitter Ralph Rosas to left center field, a ground out RBI to short by Shane Kaufman and an infield RBI single by Bryon Izzo.

Leading 3-2 going into the top of the third inning, the Railsplitters couldn't hold the Lions at bay in their third at-bat.  MHC's Mike Kitt scored when the Lion's Corry DiBiase gounded into a double play to tie the game at 3-3.

Both teams went scoreless until the top of the fifth when Mars Hill regained the lead on a two RBI single by Corry DiBiase to give the Lions a 5-3 advantage.  The trips across the plate turned out to be Mars Hill's last of the game and LMU put together a monsterous offensive effort in the bottom of the fifth to not only retake the lead, but to put the Lions away with five runs for an 8-5 advantage.  A two RBI double down the left field line by Cody Pack, an RBI single by Ralph Rosas through the left side and a two RBI double to left field by Eric Kitts were the tools the Railsplitters used to capture the come-from-behind victory.

LMU's Sean Woolard got the win to improve to 4-4 on the year, while Railsplitter Jeff Ludlow picked up the save.  Woolard pitched five innings, allowing 10 hits, five runs and five earned runs, with two walks and two strikeouts.  Ludlow closed the door in the final two innings to grab his second save of the season.  Ludlow allowed only two Lion hits while recording three strikeouts.

For Mars Hill, Justin Hall was the losing pitcher.  Hall got the start and lasted 4.2 innings before giving up the mound.  Hall allowed nine LMU hits, eight runs which were all earned and had no walks and one strikeout.

Sunday's second game got started as a near carbon-copy of the afternoon's first game.  Again it was Mars Hill taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Devin Pressnell stole home, and then Corry DiBiase hit an RBI single to right center field.

With the Lions leading 2-0, LMU didn't get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the second inning when Shane Kaufman grounded out to the Mars Hill shortstop for the second time of the afternoon but managed to get a run across the plate.

With Mars Hill now leading 2-1, the game stood at a stalemate until the top of the seventh inning when a couple of  LMU errors allowed the Lions to extend their at-bat and eventually get their third run of the game across the plate on an RBI single by Corry DiBiase to take a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, the Railsplitters were playing with their backs to the wall when they managed to get the bats going and scored the tying two runs on an RBI single by Bryon Izzo and an RBI single up the middle by Tommy Casto.  The effort tied things at 3-3 and sent the game into extra innings.

Realizing the urgency of the situation, Mars Hill wasted no time in getting a run across the plate in the top of the eighth.  Brandon Savoca's single to right center field was enough score teammate Kris Torrance from second and that was enough to edge the Railsplitters as MHC stopped the LMU effort at the plate cold in the bottom of the inning for the 4-3 win. 

Although Alex Britt got the start, it was Mars Hill's Thomas White that picked up the win to move to 3-1 on the year.  White took over midway through the seventh inning and allowed two hits and a walk before closing the inning.  Jason Kennell got the save by pitching the eighth inning and allowing no LMU damage.

LMU's Josh Strawn suffered only his second loss of the season to fall to 5-2 on the year.  Strawn lasted the full eight innings for the Railsplitters while giving up nine hits, four runs and three earned runs with two walks and nine strikeouts.

The Lions move to 18-16 overall and 6-7 in league play while holding on to the no. 5 position in the league standings, while LMU moves to 24-13 overall and 5-8 in league play, falling back into seventh place in the league standings after the weekend's play.  LMU will be in action on Tuesday when they travel to Frankfort, Kentucky to take on non-conference opponent Kentucky State University.

Game One:  Lincoln Memorial 8, Mars Hill 5
Mar 29, 2009 at Harrogate, TN
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Mars Hill........... 201 020 0 -  5 12  0      (17-16, 5-7 SAC)
Lincoln Memorial.... 030 050 X -  8 10  1      (24-12, 5-7 SAC)
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Pitchers: Mars Hill - Justin Hall; Chad Jarvis(5); Greg Smith(5) and Mike Dobre. Lincoln Memorial - Sean Woolard; Jeff Ludlow(6) and Jason Pabon.
Win-Sean Woolard(4-4)  Save-Jeff Ludlow(2)  Loss-Justin Hall(3-2)  T-2:10  A-0
HR LMU - Ralph Rosas (5).
Weather: Overcast, Light rain, mid 40s
Chad Jarvis faced 1 batter in the 5th.
Complete Box Score

Game Two:  Mars Hill 4, Lincoln Memorial 3
Mar 29, 2009 at Harrogate, TN
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Mars Hill........... 200 000 11 -  4  9  0      (18-16, 6-7 SAC)
Lincoln Memorial.... 010 000 20 -  3  6  3      (24-13, 5-8 SAC)
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Pitchers: Mars Hill - Alex Britt; Thomas White(7); Jason Kennell(8) and Mike Dobre. Lincoln Memorial - Josh Strawn and Jason Pabon.
Win-Thomas White(3-1)  Save-Jason Kennell(1)  Loss-Josh Strawn(5-2)  T-2:15  A-75
Weather: Overcast, Light rain, mid 40s
Complete Box Score

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