HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Railsplitters open their home schedule with a series against the Ohio Valley Fighting Scots (0-3) this weekend. Lincoln Memorial (1-7) concluded its eight-game season-opening road trip Wednesday with an 8-5 loss at Lee University. Meanwhile, Ohio Valley has had nearly two full weeks off since being swept at Georgia College.
Schedule/Game Day Links:
Saturday, February 18 (11 a.m.) -
Live Stats
Saturday, February 18 (2 p.m.) -
Live Stats
Sunday, February 19 (1 p.m.) -
Live Stats
Quick Hits:
- The Railsplitters lost 8-5 to Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. to conclude their eight-game road trip. The team went a combined 0-7 against No. 5 USC Aiken, Florida Tech and Lee, who have combined for a 20-3 record. Lincoln Memorial's only win came against Claflin, who currently sits at 1-7.
- Lee's Jordan Howard hit a grand slam as part of a five-RBI day while Geremy Walton added a two-run homer to power the Flames over the Railsplitters Wednesday afternoon.
- Lincoln Memorial scored in the top of the first inning for the fifth time in six games. Despite outscoring opponents 12-3 in the first inning thus far, the Railsplitters are 1-4 in the five games they have scored first.
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Nate Stinson (Jonesboro, Ga.) has been an early catalyst for the Railsplitters, batting 5-for-7 (all singles) with a walk to lead off games. He has also scored four first-inning runs. In all other at bats the freshman is 5-for-30 with a team-high 13 strikeouts. Three of those hits are doubles, which leads all Railsplitters.
- Lincoln Memorial is off to its worst start since 2005, when the team dropped its first nine games.
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Logan Augustine (Urbandale, Iowa) and
Mason Ewers (Kingsport, Tenn.) lead the team with identical stat lines of 10-for-30 (.333 AVG), seven runs scored, two doubles and one home run. Augustine holds an 8-to-5 RBI edge, while Ewers leads all Railsplitters with four stolen bases. Stinson is also tied for the team lead in hits.
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Timmy Wages (Molin, Ill.) leads the Railsplitters with 10 RBI, although eight of those came in the team's 19-5 win at Claflin. He drove in one apiece in the USC Aiken and Florida Tech series. He is the only other Railsplitter besides Augustine and Ewers to connect for a home run.
- 2016 SAC Freshman of the Year and All-SAC first team selection
Ethan Elliott (Knoxville, Tenn.) fell to 0-2 on the year in his start at Florida Tech despite allowing just two runs and striking out six in 5.1 innings. He allowed just one hit through the first four innings, but the Panthers scratched pushed two runs across in the fifth. He departed with one out in the sixth with his team trailing 2-1. In two starts, the Railsplitter offense has given him just one total run of support.
Notes on the Fighting Scots:
- Ohio Valley was swept in three games by Georgia College by scores of 12-1, 11-2 and 7-4.
- The Fighting Scots hit a respectable .291 with 32 hits over the three games, but only four of those hits went for extra bases. The team also walked just five times in the series and struck out 26 times.
- First baseman Jake Carr was the star offensively for Ohio Valley with a 7-for-12 performance over the team's opening weekend. Despite the strong showing at the plate, he did not record an RBI.
- Travis Perkola also posted a strong 5-for-10 weekend at the plate (all singles) with two walks. He also did not record an RBI.
- Emory Charles hit .357 (5-for-14) over the weekend. All other Fighting Scots combined to go 15-for-74 (.203 AVG).
- Freshman Nicholas Shower got the opening day start on the mound for the Scots. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) and nine hits with two walks and strikeouts before being pulled after 3.1 innings.
- Another freshman, Ryan Valentine, took the start on the mound in the second game. He also allowed eight runs (seven earned) but in just two innings of work.
- Perkola made the start in the series finale and fared slightly better. He kept the host Bobcats off the board through the first two innings but allowed three earned runs each in the third and fourth innings and was pulled after 3.2 innings.
- Ohio Valley's defense did not do its pitching staff any favors. The team committed seven total errors and multiple errors in all three games.
Series History:
- The Fighting Scots travel to Harrogate for the third straight year. The Railsplitters have won 6 straight in the series and 14 of 16. Lincoln Memorial is 19-5 all-time against Ohio Valley. All matchups between these teams have been played in Harrogate.
- Lincoln Memorial has outscored Ohio Valley 77-15 over the past six meetings, including last year's beatdowns of 16-1 and 19-0.
- The Fighting Scots last beat the Railsplitters in 2009, 5-3. Their only other win in the series since 2006 was 9-6 in 2008.
