MARS HILL, N.C. -- The Mars Hill Lions (24-14, 9-9 SAC) scored eight unanswered runs to rally from a 5-3 deficit and defeat the Railsplitters (22-11, 9-6 SAC) 11-5 in the rubber game of a three-game South Atlantic Conference baseball series on Sunday afternoon in Mars Hill, N.C.
 
Lincoln Memorial scored two runs in the top of the seventh to grab a late lead, but Mars Hill responded by plating five runs in the bottom of that inning before tacking on three more in the eighth to clinch the series victory.
 
The Railsplitters posted just six hits in the game, but five different Mars Hill pitchers combined to issue nine walks and help Lincoln Memorial's cause.
 
Russell Clark (Wexford, Pa.) went 2 for 4 with a run scored to lead the LMU attack, while Seth Hunt (Knoxville, Tenn.) drove in two runs despite going 0 for 2 at the dish. Danny Valdez (Orlando, Fla.) also had an RBI while going 1 for 3, while Jean Rodriguez (Caguas, Puerto Rico), HD Dillard (Woodstock, Ga.) and Eric Kalman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also added a single apiece. Logan Augustine (Urbandale, Iowa) went 0 for 2 but reached base three times on three walks.
 
Chase Randolph (Harriman, Tenn.) made the start for the Railsplitters, but lasted just one inning after allowing five hits and two runs in the bottom of the first. Dominic Morabito (Vienna, Va.) was saddled with the loss after serving up six hits and three earned runs in five innings of relief. Morabito, who slips to 2-2 on the season in defeat, struck out seven in the contest.
 
Mars Hill compiled 16 hits with five going for extra bases. Dylan Powers went 3 for 4 with a double, a home run, four RBI and three runs scored, while Logan Conley also recorded three hits with a pair of RBI. Christian Stampler hit a home run as part of a 2 for 3 showing at the plate that included three RBI. Rayshelon Carolina, Evan Rogers and Dalton Eisenbath each finished with two hits in the game.
 
Blaine Farrell picked up the win for the Lions to improve to 1-0 on the season. Farrell didn't allow a hit or an earned run over his 3 1/3 innings of work, but did walk four.
 
The Railsplitters loaded the bases in the top of the first inning after Rodriguez, Dillard and Kalman singled, but Wes Neiderland (Thompson Station, Tenn.) ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
 
Mars Hill, meanwhile, tallied two runs in the bottom of that inning, as Carolina singled and scored on a sacrifice fly out, while Rogers singled and scored on a double from Conley.
 
Lincoln Memorial got a run back in the top of the second frame, though, as Mason Ewers (Kingsport, Tenn.) reached on an infield error and scored on a sac fly by Hunt.
 
The Railsplitters took the lead in the top of the fourth, as Ewers walked and Clark singled to put two runners on with one out in the inning. Hunt notched his second sac fly of the game to draw the game even before Valdez put Lincoln Memorial ahead with a single back up the middle.
 
The score held at 3-2 in favor of the Railsplitters until the bottom of the sixth, when Phillip Carroll drew a lead-off walk and came around to score on an RBI groundout from Hunter Merrill.
 
Lincoln Memorial would quickly answer in the top of the seventh, taking a 5-3 lead by scoring two runs without a hit. Rodriguez sparked that rally by drawing a two-out walk. After the free pass, the Mars Hill left fielder committed an error that allowed Rodriguez to score from first. A wild pitch then allowed Dillard, who reached on the error, to score from third.
 
The Railsplitters' lead would be short-lived, though, as Mars Hill brought five runs home in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead for good. After back-to-back singles from Rogers and Brubaker, an outfield error allowed the Lions to cut the deficit to 5-4. Conley tied the game in the next at-bat with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.
 
Grant Painter (Knoxville, Tenn.) was called on in relief after that single and he immediately forced back-to-back popups in the infield. However, Stampler hit a three-run, two-out home run to catapult Mars Hill in front 8-5.
 
The Railsplitters stranded a runner on base in the top of the eighth, while the Lions put the game out of reach in the bottom of that inning on a three-run home run from Powers.
 
Lincoln Memorial returns to Lamar Hennon Field on Tuesday for a nonconference doubleheader against the Bellarmine Knights beginning at 2 p.m.