MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. -- The 2017 Lincoln Memorial University softball season commences on Sunday as the Lady Railsplitters make the 450-mile trip to Mount Olive, N.C. to play a doubleheader against the Mount Olive Trojans. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.
 
Schedule/Gameday Links
 
Sunday, February 5 at Mount Olive (Doubleheader at 1pm)
Game One - Live Stats
Game Two - Live Stats
 
Notes on the Lady Railsplitters:
 
-The Lady Railsplitters went 24-28 last season and finished tied for fifth place in the South Atlantic Conference standings with an 11-11 league mark. Lincoln Memorial is hoping to get off to a better start in 2017, as the Lady Railsplitters lost 15 of their first 19 games last season before posting a 20-13 record over the final 33 games.
 
-The Lady Railsplitters return six of their top-eight hitters in terms of total hits from last season's squad, including NFCA All-Southeast Region selection Jennifer Moose (Statesville, N.C.), who led Lincoln Memorial in hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in 2016. Lincoln Memorial also welcomes back sophomore outfielder Allie Jones (Ooltewah, Tenn.), junior outfielder Ashlea Hunter (Woodruff, S.C.) and senior infielder Meredith Johnson (Kenly, N.C.), who each appeared in at least 48 games last season.
 
-Stalwart pitcher Samantha Smith graduated this past spring and leaves Lincoln Memorial as the program's all-time leader in appearances and games started. However, Brianna Taylor (Ooltewah, Tenn.) led the Lady Railsplitters in innings pitched (158.1) and wins (12) last season, and she's back for her junior campaign. Taylor posted a 3.09 earned run average with 94 strikeouts last season while also compiling a seven-game winning streak from March 6-20.
 
-The Lady Railsplitters were selected sixth in the SAC preseason coaches' poll. It was a close vote, though, as Lincoln Memorial received 90 points while fourth-place Catawba garnered 93 points. Lenoir-Rhyne took the top spot with nine first-place votes and 130 total points. Carson-Newman and Wingate followed in second and third, respectively.  
 
-The Lady Railsplitters have six new players on the roster for the 2017 campaign. Among those six, middle infielder Dakotah Fraley (Walkersville, Md.) and utility player Ty-Kella Goins (Ramseur, N.C.) are expected to be starters from day one. Pitcher Justice Smith (Rockmart, Ga.) will also be asked to eat up a lot of innings on the mound this season.
 
-Lincoln Memorial is 3-5 on the opening day of the season since head coach Natalie Layden took over prior to the 2013 campaign. The Lady Railsplitters last swept their season-opening doubleheader in 2014 against Milligan at Dorothy Neely Field.  
 
Notes on the Trojans:
 
-Mount Olive kicks off its 2017 season on Saturday with a doubleheader against Virginia State before turning around to welcome the Lady Railsplitters to town on Sunday. The Trojans finished with a 33-20 record last season and went 16-6 in Conference Carolinas play. Mount Olive was selected third in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll.
 
-The Trojans were hit hard by graduation, losing do-it-all outfielder Kelsey Akers, top pitcher Madison Johnston and another solid offensive weapon in utility player Savannah Becker. Akers led UMO in at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, RBI, stolen bases, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage last season, while Johnston went 17-9 with 18 complete games and 93 strikeouts over 175 innings pitched in 2016. Becker was solid as well with a .333 batting average, a team-high six home runs and 32 RBI.
 
-Mount Olive, who led Conference Carolinas with a .307 batting average last season, still has plenty to work with offensively with the return of Kayla Allen, Anna Ingram, Kristin Power and Caitlin Ewers. Last season, Allen hit .366 and slugged .521 while racking up 11 doubles, four triples and 33 RBI. Ingram posted a .303 batting average as a sophomore with 15 doubles, two homers and 29 RBI, while Power had seven two-baggers and 15 stolen bases. Ewers, who also tossed 55 innings last season, compiled six doubles, three homers and 26 RBI as a junior.
 
-Johnston graduated and Julie Hodges opted not to return for her sophomore season, leaving Ewers as the Trojans' top returning pitcher from last year's squad. Ewers was used minimally, making 17 appearances and throwing just 55 innings over that span. She finished with a 2-5 record and a 2.67 earned run average. The Trojans have three other pitchers - Kylie Ward, Karen Foley and Emily Chaisson - listed on the roster.
 
-Mount Olive ranked seventh in the nation last season in stolen bases per game with 2.30. Akers led the Trojans with 30 steals, but four players are returning that stole at least 10 bases in 2016, including Charlene Thompson, who had 24.
 
Series History:
 
-The Lady Railsplitters are squaring off against Mount Olive for the first time since the 2006 season. Lincoln Memorial has won the only two meetings in the series and has yet to allow a run against the Trojans, winning 6-0 in 2006 and 2-0 in 2005.
 
-Sunday will mark Lincoln Memorial's first-ever trip to Mount Olive. The only two contests in the all-time series were neutral-site affairs.