YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – After nearly being no-hit in game one, the Lady Railsplitters bounced back to earn a doubleheader split at Young Harris on Sunday.
Lincoln Memorial (3-5) was limited to just two hits and never pushed a runner past second base in a 3-0 loss to the Mountain Lions (5-6) in game one. However, the Lady Railsplitters rebounded from that performance to scatter eight hits in a 4-3 win in game two.
The Lady Railsplitters return to action next weekend when they head to Spartanburg, S.C. for the three-day Mid-South Classic. Lincoln Memorial will play six games in that event, beginning with a matchup against Tiffin on February 23 at 4 p.m.
Game One: Young Harris 3, Lincoln Memorial 0
The Lady Railsplitters had no answer for Mountain Lion starter Dharma Rosbrugh, who allowed just two hits and struck out five in the complete-game shutout.
After the team was shutout in her previous start against Milligan, LMU starter
Brianna Taylor was once again given no run support to spoil an otherwise solid performance. Taylor allowed just six hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts in the six-inning loss to fall to 1-3 on the season.
Emma Webb accounted for both of the Lady Railsplitters' hits with a leadoff single in the top of the fourth as well as a two-out single in the sixth.
Young Harris took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Haylie Shope led off with a double and scored on a groundout from Hannah Harrison.
The Mountain Lions' lead held at 1-0 until they tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from Murphy Davis and another RBI groundout from Harrison.
That was more than enough run support for Rosbrugh, who led Young Harris to its first win over the Lady Railsplitters since 2015.
Game Two: Lincoln Memorial 4, Young Harris 3
Webb was the catalyst for a resurgent offensive effort in game two, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and two RBI to lead the Lady Railsplitters to the bounce-back victory.
Along with Webb,
Ty-Kella Goins went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk, while
Kelsie Hocutt went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Allie Jones added an RBI, a hit and a run scored.
Justice Smith picked up the win with another strong performance in the circle, allowing just five hits with two earned runs over five innings of action. Taylor picked up the save after surrendering just one hit without a walk over two innings of relief.
The Lady Railsplitters took the lead right out of the gate as Goins led off the game with a single and scored two batters later on Jones' knock. Webb then drove in the second run of the inning with a double to straightaway centerfield.
Lincoln Memorial added to its lead in the top of the third when Goins drew a leadoff walk and scored on Webb's two-out single.
Young Harris cut into the Lady Railsplitters' lead in the fifth inning with a run-scoring single, but a two-out throwing error allowed Lincoln Memorial to get that run back in the sixth.
That run proved to be vital, too, as the Mountain Lions scrounged up two runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a sacrifice fly out and a fielding error by Taylor.
Young Harris then made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh when Jill Torres led off with a single and another fielding error put two runners on with only one out. However, Taylor induced a lineout and a groundout to complete the victory.
Torres was the only Young Harris player with multiple hits in the contest, going 2-for-2 with two walks as well. Louise Disi suffered the loss after giving up three hits and two runs before completing even the first inning. Kennedy Kotula kept the Lady Railsplitters mostly in check after the first inning, giving up only five hits and one earned run with seven strikeouts over 6.2 innings of action.
