NEWBERRY, S.C. -- The Railsplitters (10-4, 3-1 SAC) rallied two different times and scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to power a 12-7 come-from-behind win over the 20th-ranked Newberry Wolves (14-5-1, 2-2 SAC) in game one of a three-game South Atlantic Conference baseball series in Newberry, S.C. on Friday night.
 
The Wolves have been all but unbeatable with a late lead this season, as they entered Friday night's game with a 10-0-1 mark when leading after six innings. But Lincoln Memorial overcame a 3-1 deficit in the top of the eighth as well as a 7-5 hole in the top of the ninth to knock off nationally-ranked Newberry.
 
The Railsplitters collected double-digit hits for the 11th consecutive game with a 12-hit showing. Logan Augustine (Urbandale, Iowa) went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a walk, while Mason Ewers (Kingsport, Tenn.) finished 3-for-5 as well with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. HD Dillard (Woodstock, Ga.) and Wes Neiderland (Thompson Station, Tenn.) contributed two hits apiece, with Dillard adding two RBI.
 
Junior right-hander Brandon Jean (Franklin, Tenn.) had to settle for a no decision despite a solid outing. Jean allowed just six hits and three earned runs with five strikeouts over seven-plus innings of work. Grant Painter (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up the victory after tossing 2/3 innings of relief with one hit allowed. Chase Randolph (Harriman, Tenn.) shut the door on the Wolves with a scoreless ninth inning.
 
The Railsplitters drew first blood in the top of the first inning, as Dillard doubled with one out and later scored on a single by Augustine.
 
Lincoln Memorial threatened to do further damage in the top of the fourth inning, loading the bases with no outs, but back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout kept the Railsplitters from adding to their lead.
 
In the home half of the fourth, Newberry finally broke through against Jean, as singles by Trejon Smith and Jeff Sneed put runners on the corners with one out. Jacob Bass then evened the score at 1-1 with a sacrifice fly out, while Danton Hyman doubled down the left-field line to make it 2-1 in favor of the Wolves.
 
Newberry increased its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly out from Michael Gonzalez.
 
The Railsplitters couldn't muster anything in the sixth and seventh innings, but opened the floodgates in the top of the eighth frame. Neiderland singled and Russell Clark (Wexford, Pa.) walked to put two runners on for Ewers, who drove in a run with a double. After a pitching change followed by two straight strikeouts, Newberry committed an error on a ball put in play by Seth Hunt (Knoxville, Tenn.), allowing the tying run to score. Augustine then drove in two runs with a single to give the Railsplitters a 5-3 lead.
 
Newberry answered right back in the home half of the eighth, though, as Derek Olenchuk tied the game with a two-run triple before scoring on a wild pitch. Sneed then singled and scored on a triple by Robert Kosch to put Lincoln Memorial in a 7-5 hole.
 
The Railsplitters were up to the challenge of rallying again in the top of the ninth, as RBI singles from Ewers and Jean Rodriguez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) knotted the game at 7-7. Hunt then drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Railsplitters ahead, while a balk plated another run. Dillard put the nail in the coffin after the balk, driving in two runs with a triple to right field. He scored on a groundout by Augustine to send Lincoln Memorial into the bottom of the ninth leading 12-7.
 
The Wolves got a runner on base with a hit by pitch, but Randolph induced a fly out and a groundout to end the game.
 
Cody Ezzell suffered the loss for Newberry after giving up two earned runs and two hits in a third of an inning of relief. Daniel Nations made the start for the Wolves, allowing just four hits with five strikeouts over six innings.
 
Sneed led Newberry by going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored.
 
The Railsplitters and Wolves complete their SAC series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.