HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Railsplitters (23-18, 15-10 SAC) rallied from a 4-1 deficit by exploding for eight runs in the top of the ninth inning to complete the sweep of the Coker Cobras (15-25, 6-18 SAC) with a 9-4 win in South Atlantic Conference baseball action on Sunday in Hartsville, S.C.
It marks Lincoln Memorial's third three-game SAC series sweep of the season as the Railsplitters took all three games from Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson-Newman in consecutive series bridging the end of February and the beginning of March. The sweep helped the Railsplitters give themselves some breathing room in the race for a top four spot in the final SAC standings. With the three wins, Lincoln Memorial improved to 15-10 (.600) in league play. Wingate is in fifth with a 13-14 ledger (.481).
Coker starting pitcher Dallas Baldwin dominated the Railsplitters through the first eight innings, allowing just six hits and one run over that span. Lincoln Memorial tallied its only run during that stretch in the top of the sixth, as
Logan Augustine (Urbandale, Iowa) tripled with two outs and scored on a double by
Nick Morabito (Vienna, Va.).
The Cobras had already asserted control of the game by that point, though, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third stanza. Three straight singles by Alex Rodriguez, Michael Orlowski and Bryson Conner loaded the bases for Coker. Rodriguez and Orlowski scored the first two runs of the contest on back-to-back passed balls, while Tyler Osik plated the final run of the inning with an RBI groundout.
The Cobras erased Morabito's run-scoring double in the home half of the sixth on a solo home run by Miguel Frias, pushing their lead back to 4-1.
Lincoln Memorial went down in order in the top of the eighth inning, while
Ryan Burlison (Romeoville, Ill.) set the side down in order in the Cobras' half of that inning, sending the Railsplitters to the top of the ninth inning looking to overcome a three-run deficit.
Morabito and
Kyle Floyd (Windsor, Ill.) got the inning started with singles, while
Danny Valdez (Orlando, Fla.) reached safely in the next at-bat thanks to an error at third base. With the bases loaded,
Wes Neiderland (Thompson Station, Tenn.) trimmed LMU's deficit to 4-2 with a single and chased Baldwin from the game.
Things didn't get any easier for reliever Anthony Scaccia, as Burlison greeted him with a two-run, game-tying single. A wild pitch with
Jean Rodriguez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) at the plate then gave the Railsplitters the lead. Another wild pitch with Augustine batting extended LMU's lead to 6-4, while Morabito and Floyd added to that total with an RBI groundout and a two-run double.
After tying the game in the top of the ninth, Burlison struck out Dustin Russell, grounded out Rodriguez and struck out Orlowski to complete the Railsplitters' come-from-behind victory.
Floyd went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while Morabito was 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and a run, leading the Railsplitters' 11-hit effort. Neiderland and
Jonathan Lowe (Sidney, Ohio) recorded two hits apiece out of the six and seven spots in the lineup.
Burlison earned the win with two innings of near-perfect relief, giving up zero hits or runs with three strikeouts to improve to 2-1.
Wes Todd (Thompson Station, Tenn.) tossed 5 1/3 innings in the no decision, allowing eight hits and four earned runs over that span.
Despite his stellar start, Baldwin was on the hook for the loss after relinquishing nine hits and four earned runs in eight-plus innings. Conner and Frias led the Cobras with two hits apiece.
The Railsplitters close out Lamar Hennon Field on Wednesday, welcoming the King Tornado to Harrogate for a nonconference tilt. First pitch in that contest is set for 4 p.m. Lincoln Memorial will look to avenge a 6-4 loss to King from back on March 31.
