WINGATE, N.C. – The Lincoln Memorial University baseball team dropped both ends of Saturday's doubleheader at No. 16 Wingate (13-2, 3-0 SAC) as the Bulldogs completed a three-game sweep of the Railsplitters (10-5, 0-3 SAC) to open South Atlantic Conference play. Wingate came form behind in both games to win 6-5 in the opener and 12-10 in game two.
 
Logan Augustine continued his hot hitting with a combined 4-for-9 afternoon. The first baseman finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and hit-by-pitch in game one and 2-for-4 with two runs scored with an RBI and stolen base in the nightcap.
 
The Railsplitters return to Lamar Hennon Field on Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3, to continue SAC play against Anderson.
 
Game One: Wingate 6, Lincoln Memorial 5
 
Wingate broke through off LMU starter Joe Bobiak in the bottom of the fourth inning on an Andrew Llewellyn two-run homer. The Railsplitters responded with two runs in the the top of the fifth on a Timmy Wages single and Nate Stinson RBI fielder's choice.
 
LMU added three runs in the top half of the sixth to increase its lead to 5-2. The Railsplitters loaded the bases on a leadoff single by Grady Wright followed by a Henry Moore single and Seth Hunt walk. Joe Stucky grounded out to shortstop to bring in Wright, and Tyler Adams laced a double to left center to score Moore and Hunt.
 
Moore finished the game 3-for-5 with the run scored.
 
Llewellyn singled in a run in the bottom half of the sixth to end Bobiak's day. The lefty allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks and struck out two.
 
Wingate plated two runs off Chase Randolph and one off Dominic Morabito, who was credited with the loss, in a three-run bottom of the seventh to take the lead. The Bulldogs scored on a single, groundout to second and wild pitch.
 
Alex Rodriguez picked up the win with 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. Morabito was tagged with the loss.
 
Augustine flied out to center with runners on first and second to end the game.
 
Wingate outhit LMU 11-10. Ty Andrus had three in a 3-for-4 afternoon while Llewellyn and Reece Daniel each went 2-for-4. Llewellyn drove in three runs, and Daniel doubled twice.
 
Game Two: Wingate 12, Lincoln Memorial 10
 
Wingate's four home runs, including Bradley Brown's go-ahead grand slam, were too much for the Railsplitters to overcome in the nightcap.
 
Wingate also outhit the Railsplitters 12-11. Andrus led the way with three more hits in a 3-for-4 performance. Brown went 2-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored and two home runs including the grand slam. Zach Little finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a homer. Llewellyn also hit a two-run home run.
 
Lincoln Memorial erased an 8-3 Wingate lead with a seven-run sixth inning to take a 10-8 lead. Moore, Augustine, Adams and Wages all singled in runs in the frame. Hunt also added a sacrifice fly.
 
Brown's go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the sixth off Jack Gomersall put the Bulldogs right back in front. Andrus led off the inning with a single, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases.
 
Stucky, Augustine, Adams, Wages and Stinson had two hits apiece for the Railsplitters. Augustine, Adams and Wages each scored twice while Adams also totaled three RBI.
 
Evan Porter started for the Railsplitters and allowed three runs on three hits—including two home runs— in 2.1 innings. Four LMU relievers combined to allow the other nine runs—eight earned—over the final 3.2 innings.
 
The Railsplitters went quietly in the seventh as Hunt flew out with a runner on third to end the game.