Jefferson City, Tenn. — After splitting their South Atlantic Conference home opener this past weekend, the Lady Railsplitters will now venture across the state for a pair of rivalry games and the Lincoln Memorial University softball team's first road conference doubleheader.
 
The Basics
 
Wednesday, March 20 at No. 7 Carson-Newman University — 2/4 p.m.
Live Stats (Game One / Game Two)
Video
 
Quick Hits
 
-Last season, the Lady Railsplitters (23-5) rallied back to take one game from Carson-Newman, which ended a four-game losing streak and gave them two wins over the Eagles in the last six games since 2016.
 
-This matchup will be LMU's third against a ranked team this season as the Lady Railsplitters split with the other two: then-No. 18 Young Harris and No. 20 Wingate in the SAC opener Saturday.
 
-In the come-from-behind victory over the Bulldogs, Kelsie Hocutt hit her second home run of the day — for a team second-best five behind Sierra Hucklebee, who hit a solo shot in the first — while McKenzie Henry knocked out her team-leading ninth and extended her conference-leading RBI to 37. Hocutt and Hucklebee are right behind the freshman with 27 and 26 RBI, respectively.
 
-Emma Webb had a nice outing versus the Bulldogs as she went 6-for-8 with a double in each game to up her batting average to .381. Also having a stellar season is sophomore Grace Cochran, who sports a .354 batting average with a team-high 10 doubles. She saw one come in the first game for her lone hit and after a tough 1-for-4 appearance at the plate, she bounced back with a 3-for-3 game two, scoring three runs and batting in two more.
 
-Despite a quiet past few weeks, Ty-Kella Goins came through in the clutch as she singled in her lone runs to knot the score in the seventh inning Saturday. It was then Henry's team-leading 17th walk, which scored the bases-loaded winning run.
 
-The Lady Railsplitters' lethal offense still paces the SAC as they are an overall first in at-bats (739), runs (213), hits (250), doubles (61), RBIs (188), extra-base hits (96), on-base percentage (.432) and walks (106) and hit-by-pitch (23). LMU is second in home runs (26) and fourth in triples (nine).
 
-In the circle, Bailey Griffith took a loss and a win in the pair of Saturday games as the win pushed her to a SAC-second best 10. She still sits in a three-way tie for second in saves with three, as well.
 
Know the Opponent
 
-It's been one heckuva start to the season for the Eagles (14-1). Carson-Newman had nine games postponed or canceled, but they were literally perfect in all the rest of their non-conference games. Heading into SAC play Saturday, the Eagles were ranked No. 7 in the nation behind their 13-0 record.
 
-In the first conference game, the Queens spoiled Carson-Newman's record, knocking the Eagles off, 1-0, on the Royals' home field. The Eagles shook off their first loss rather quickly, however, as they defeated the home team, 7-3, in the next seven innings.
 
-The Eagles' success has been largely due to their trio of pitchers: Allison Rager (7-1), Abby Hicks (1-0) and Lacie Rinus (6-0), who have the SAC's lowest combined ERA (1.62). In 53.1 innings pitched, Rager is second among the SAC with her 1.18 ERA, while Rinus has tossed 36 innings good for a 2.33 ERA and Hicks has 10.1 under her belt and a 1.35 ERA.
 
-Offensively, the Eagles are first with the least number of strikeouts (52) and second to hit into a double play (six). However, their best hitter, Abby Flessinger, has a .426 batting average in all 15 games played with a team-high 20 hits and 12 runs scored, along with three doubles, a triple, four home runs and nine RBI to just one strikeout.
 
-Haley Caldwell (.366) and KaraLynne Levi (.317) have a team-high 12 RBI apiece, while Rinus is right behind with 11. Caldwell also leads the Eagles' conference-fourth best 23 blasts with five home runs as Levi has the same amount as Flessinger (4).
 
Head-to-Head
 
-The Lady Railsplitters haven't had a ton of success in this rivalry as Carson-Newman holds an overall 50-21 record versus LMU.
 
-In Harrogate, LMU is 13-18 against the Eagles, while the Lady Railsplitters are 7-26 on the road and 1-6 in a neutral site.