AIKEN, S.C. – Lincoln Memorial (1-2) took an early 3-0 lead but saw that evaporate as USC Aiken (2-1) scored 10 unanswered runs to win 10-5.
Dominic Morabito took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but the bullpen allowed nine runs over the final three innings.
A leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth ended Morabito's no-hit bid and the righty's day. He allowed a single earned run in five-plus innings, walked three and struck out six.
Marco Rios staked Morabito to an early lead with a two-run single in the top of the second. An additional run scored in the fifth when
Timmy Wages reached on an error by the shortstop. LMU's final two runs came across in the ninth on a
Connor Byram hit-by-pitch and
Triston Campbell fielder's choice.
Both Lincoln Memorial and USC Aiken scattered seven hits on the day. Rios and Dedas each had a pair of singles for the Railsplitters, while Joey Smithers starred for the Pacers by going 2-for-3 with a three-run homer. Conner Durden also added a two-run home run in the sixth that put USC Aiken up for good.
Evan Porter came on in relief of Morabito but allowed three runs—two earned—and one inherited runner to score in one third of an inning. His LMU debut was capped off by Durden's two-run homer.
Chase Randolph and
Ben Wiley didn't fare any better, as each reliever allowed three earned runs of their own.
Daniel Wiggins picked up the win with one unearned run in two innings of relief. USC Aiken starting pitcher Hunter Shuff allowed two earned runs in four innings with one strikeout.
The Railsplitters will play one game at Claflin Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. before coming home over the weekend for a three-game set with Ohio Valley.
Quick Hits
- LMU pitchers accumulated 34 strikeouts over the three-game series. Railsplitter batters struck out 31 times.
- The Railsplitters have dropped 20 of the teams' last 23 meetings against USC Aiken and haven't won back-to-back games over the Pacers since 2010.
-
Logan Augustine reached base for the 29
th straight game with a first-inning walk.
