HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The Railsplitters (24-15, 10-8 SAC) nearly rallied from a six-run deficit, but came up just a bit short in a 6-5 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne (28-13, 9-9 SAC) in the rubber game of a three-game South Atlantic Conference baseball series at Lamar Hennon Field on Monday. With the loss, Lincoln Memorial drops its third straight SAC series, but remains tied for third place in the league standings, while the Bears move into a tie for sixth place after taking two of three from the Railsplitters.
 
The Bears scored in each of the first four innings - highlighted by a three-run outburst in the top of the fourth - to race out to a commanding 6-0 lead. But Matt Mullenbach (Urbandale, Iowa) stabilized the Railsplitters out of the bullpen before Dominic Morabito (Vienna, Va.) and Cody Hinson (Taylor Ridge, Ill.) wiggled out of a couple of late-inning jams to give Lincoln Memorial a chance to rally back.
 
The Railsplitters scattered 10 hits in the contest, but left nine runners stranded on base, including the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Logan Augustine (Urbandale, Iowa) and Peyton Sawyer (Knoxville, Tenn.) led the way for Lincoln Memorial offensively, going 3 for 5 at the plate. Jean Rodriguez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) went 1 for 4 with a home run and three RBI.
 
Chase Randolph (Harriman, Tenn.) was ultimately pegged with the loss after surrendering six hits and five earned runs in four innings of work before giving way to Mullenbach in the fifth frame. Mullenbach picked up his teammate and dazzled over 3 1/3 innings of relief work, allowing just three hits without a run to keep the Railsplitters' hopes alive. Morabito and Hinson combined to record the final five outs, while Hinson stranded runners at second and third with no outs in the eighth.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne opened the game on a 6-0 run, scoring a run in the first, second and third innings before uncorking a three-spot in the fourth.
 
Lead-off hitter Ryan Perkins had a hand in four of those six runs. He led off the game with a single back up the middle before advancing to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scoring on Colby Dishmond's sacrifice fly out. After a solo shot from Marcus Shoemaker made it 2-0 in the second, Perkins led off the third with a solo home run of his own. Perkins then capped the Bears' three-run fourth with a two-run, two-out single.
 
That would be the extent of Lenoir-Rhyne's offensive output, while the Railsplitters began to steadily chip away at the Bears' lead in the bottom of the fifth.
 
After being limited to just two hits through the first four plate appearances, Rodriguez brought the Railsplitters' offense to life in the fifth stanza, hitting a two-run home run over the wall in left center field to trim Lenoir-Rhyne's lead to 6-2.
 
Lincoln Memorial was back at it again in the sixth inning, as Sawyer and Joe Stucky (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled in back-to-back at bats to set the stage. A passed ball allowed Sawyer to score before a wild pitch brought Stucky home. Rodriguez then scored Danny Valdez (Orlando, Fla.), who walked earlier in the inning, on a sacrifice fly out to bring the Railsplitters within one at 6-5.
 
The Railsplitters nearly tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, as Wes Neiderland (Thompson Station, Tenn.) singled with two outs and moved into scoring position after Russell Clark (Wexford, Pa.) was hit by a pitch. In the ensuing at-bat, Sawyer slashed a single into right field, but Neiderland was thrown out at the plate to keep Lenoir-Rhyne in the lead.
 
The Bears loaded the bases in the top of the eighth after Will Thompson singled, David Newcomer walked and Zach Shoemaker was hit by a pitch. But Morabito kept the deficit from growing by striking out Justin Lara and forcing Perkins to fly out to center field.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne nearly added to its lead again in the top of the ninth, putting runners at second and third with no outs after Dean singled and Dishmond doubled off the wall in left. But Hinson was called in from the pen and promptly put the Bears away, striking out Matthew De La Rosa and Shoemaker around an infield fly out.
 
The Railsplitters gave themselves a chance to tie or win the game in the bottom of the ninth, as Augustine doubled to left center, Neiderland was intentionally walked and Clark drew a walk, loading the bases with two outs. However, Sawyer flew out to left field to end the game.
 
Perkins led Lenoir-Rhyne at the plate, going 3 for 5 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Dishmond and Thompson added two hits apiece.
 
Matt Sullivan picked up the win, improving to 3-2 on the season after allowing seven hits and five earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. De La Rosa earned the save after shutting out the Railsplitters in the ninth.
 
The Railsplitters are back in action on Wednesday, hosting the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans for their Vs. Cancer game at 5 p.m. at Lamar Hennon Field.