Box Score BRISTOL, Tenn. – Lincoln Memorial (17-15, 8-4 SAC) and King (12-18, 3-12 Conference Carolinas) had their game halted Wednesday due to darkness with the score tied 9-9. The game will resume when King makes its scheduled trip to Harrogate on April 12.
Both teams were even with 10 hits, although seven of King's came with runners on base and six were with two outs. Meanwhile, the Railsplitters hit just 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
Mason Ewers (Kingsport, Tenn.) homered and drove in two runs as part of a 2-for-5 afternoon.
Seth Hunt (Knoxville, Tenn.) and
Eric Kalman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also each collected two hits and an RBI apiece.
J.P. Castaneda went 3-for-4 for the Tornado with a pair of RBI and runs scored. Bubba Ritz went 2-for-5 with a two-run double, and Zak Kitzmiller went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
The Railsplitters quickly jumped ahead 3-0 in the top of the first on an RBI single by
Logan Augustine (Urbandale, Iowa) and Kalman's two-run double. The Tornado tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single and two-run double of their own.
Ewers' solo shot in the top of the second inning put the Railsplitters back in front, but King once again tied the game in the bottom half on a Castaneda single.
King used a three-run fourth to take the lead 7-4. All three were gifted to the Tornado as the first came around on a wild pitch and the other two scored on a Hunt error.
Hunt made up for the miscue in the top of the sixth with a two-run single. Ewers followed with a double to bring in another run and tie the game back up at seven apiece.
The Railsplitters re-took the lead in the top of the eighth on an Augustine RBI single. Another run scored two batters later on a Castaneda error.
Lincoln Memorial again couldn't hold a lead as the Tornado plated a run in each the eighth and ninth to tie the game. Castaneda singled home the run in the eighth, and the tying run scored in the ninth after a Ewers throwing error.
Both teams will be short-staffed when the game resumes, as 13 pitchers saw action, seven of which were used by Lincoln Memorial.
The Railsplitters resume SAC play over the weekend with a crucial series at Tusculum. The game Friday has a 6 p.m. start time.
