NEWBERRY, S.C. — The Lincoln Memorial University softball team forced extras with a three-run seventh inning in game one before falling 7-6 in the eighth frame to South Atlantic Conference foe Newberry, but the Lady Railsplitters bounced back in the second part of the doubleheader.
 
No. 19 LMU used a five-run fifth inning — thanks to an Emma Webb two-run double and Audrey Petoskey's three-run home run – to go up one run and the Lady Railsplitters never looked back, snagging the 7-5 victory to snap a five-game losing streak versus the Wolves Saturday in Newberry, S.C.
 
In Petoskey's first start since March 13, the sophomore was exactly what the Lady Railsplitters (27-7, 5-3 SAC) needed after they left 14 runners on base in the game one, one-run loss. The designated player went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, home run and four RBI. Her double scored the first run for LMU as Webb, who also was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBI, scored to even the score at 1-all in the second inning.
 
The Wolves (22-12, 4-6) then got to starter Faith Howe (W, 9-3) as they spotted four runs on the freshman in the third inning, with three of those coming from a second Hannah Davis home run.
 
But, the LMU sophomore duo put the Lady Railsplitters back into the driver's seat when they got to starter Selice Daley (L, 9-6) in the fifth. Webb used her extra-base hit to plate Sierra Hucklebee (single) and Savannah Daniel (walk) before Petoskey smashed her blast over the left-field wall, scoring Webb and Henry (walk) for the one-run lead.
 
Bailey Griffith (S, 4) relieved Howe in the bottom of the fifth inning, shutting down a threat from the Wolves in her second outing of the day since last pitching March 16 versus Wingate. The freshman succeeded while fellow frosh Hucklebee added an insurance run in the sixth frame on reliever Ivy Hayes via a sac bunt to score the speedy Daniel for the seventh and final run.
 
In the opening game, the Lady Railsplitters used a come-from-behind effort to force extras with a three-run seventh inning, which knotted the score at 6-all. Allie Jones' fielder's choice scored pinch runner Daniel, and then Ty-Kella Goins smacked across her second double, scoring Kelsie Tuggle, who ran for Jones, to tie it up for the first time since the third inning.
 
The Wolves, who took the quick 3-0 lead on Justice Smith, found the lead again in the fourth frame after the Lady Railsplitters chipped away at the first-inning deficit.
 
Webb's bases-loaded walk scored Hucklebee in the first, while Grace Cochran (2-for-4, 2 RBI) singled in Kelsie Hocutt (3-for-4) to come within a run. The Lady Railsplitters knotted it at three in the fourth when Henry used a sac fly to score Goins following her first double.
 
The Wolves took the lead back once Paige Meyer connected on a two-RBI single in the fourth, and then when Haley Simonds sent a solo shot over for the 6-3 lead. An infield single followed to end Justice Smith's day and bring Griffith (L, 10-3) in. The freshman cooled off the bats of the Wolves as the Lady Railsplitters heated up with a three-run seventh inning to force extras.
 
But, it was the home team getting the last say as the International Tie-Breaker rule placed pinch runner Morgan Wagaman on second. She advanced to third on Ashley Willis' groundout before scoring the game-winning run on an LMU throwing error.
 
Record watch
-Following the doubleheader split, head coach Ritchie Richardson is three games away from his 1,000th win. Two years ago, the Hall of Fame skipper came to LMU with a 946-339-2 record, and then went 24-22 in his first season under the helm and is 27-7 so far through his 22nd season for a 997-368-2 record.

Up Next
-The Lady Railsplitters will be back in action Wednesday when Mars Hill comes to Dorothy Neely Field for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.