HARROGATE, Tenn. — After winning the last three home doubleheaders in sweep fashion, the Lincoln Memorial University softball team has two more doubleheaders on tap as the Lady Railsplitters welcome a pair of regional opponents to Dorothy Neely Field.
 
The Basics
 
Thursday, March 7 vs. North Greenville University — 2/4 p.m.
Live Stats (Game One /Game Two)
Video
 
Friday, March 8 vs. Columbus State — 2/4 p.m.
Live Stats (Game One/Game Two)
Video
 
 
Quick Hits
 
-So far in LMU's 14-game homestand, the Lady Railsplitters (16-4) are undefeated as they've taken down Rochester College and UVa-Wise this past Friday and Saturday, respectively. On Tuesday, LMU defeated King University in a pair of gusty victories and now welcome these two hard-nosed opponents to their home turf, where the Lady Railsplitters are tough to beat and hold a 16-2 home record.
 
-The trio of seniors — Kelsie Hocutt, Allie Jones and Jacie Pittman — led the Lady Railsplitters in their first victory over King as Hocutt knocked her second home run of the season while Jones and Pittman each connected on their first.
 
-The three home runs put the Lady Railsplitters' total to 19, plus a .585 slugging percentage and .355 batting average, which is second best in the trio of categories in the South Atlantic Conference.
 
-A group effort in the circle, where Faith Howe (5.04 ERA, 33.1 IP) picked up her fourth win and Bailey Griffith (4.29 ERA, 47.1 IP) secured her seventh win and first-career save, guided the Lady Railsplitters in both games versus the Tornado.
 
-Meanwhile, Ty-Kella Goins gave LMU the lead for good when she smacked her team-leading eighth double to clear the bases and give her team the last word in their sixth straight win.
 
-Through 20 games, the Lady Railsplitters lead the SAC in runs scored (163), hits (183), doubles (48), RBI (143), extra-base hits (74) walks (77) and hit-by-pitch (19). They are second in at-bats (516) and third in triples (7).
 
Notes on North Greenville
 
-This will be the Crusaders (5-8) first-ever trip to Harrogate, but they come in undefeated versus the Lady Railsplitters. In three games — one in 2010 and the other two in 2011 — NGU has won each one, outscoring LMU 27-4.
 
-NGU — who has had an up-and-down season thus far, losing the last five of eight games heading into this doubleheader — enters its first matchup with the Lady Railsplitter since '11, with a team .242 batting average with an 80-for-330 slash at the plate, scoring 34 runs off 12 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 32 RBI, 40 walks and four hit-by-pitches in 13 games.
 
-Sam Kicklighter leads the way with her second-team best .308 batting average, 12 hits and four doubles in 12 games, while Josie Reed is next with a .300 batting average, triple and second-most walks (5) as she's appeared in every game. In 10 game appearances, Claire Gilmore has a team-high .391 batting average paired with the most home runs (2) and third-most RBI (3).
 
-It's been an even pitching circle for the Crusaders as Jaelin Griffin (3.10 ERA, 40.2) and Callie Richards (3.67, 40.0 IP) have tossed every inning minus 2.2. Griffin (3-5) holds the most strikeouts (40) and Richards (2-3) is right behind her with 31 on the season.
 
Notes on Columbus State
 
-The lone two previous times the Cougars (14-7) came to Harrogate, which was nine years ago in 2010, they left victorious and have felt that way more times than not versus the Lady Railsplitters, holding a 12-5 series record.
 
-LMU snapped a 10-game losing streak to Columbus State — dating back to when it started in 2007 — on February 9, 2014, when the Lady Railsplitters defeated the then-No. 25-ranked Cougars at a neutral site.
 
-Since that victory, LMU is 3-2 against Columbus State as the region rivalry reconvenes Friday for the first time since 2016. The Cougars come in winning the last nine of 10 games behind their .268 team batting average as they've went 152-for-568 at the plate.
 
-Through 21 games and before a home doubleheader Wednesday afternoon, Columbus State has scored 104 runs on those 152 hits — via 21 doubles, 11 triples and 20 home runs — plus 89 RBI, 85 walks and 15 hit-by-pitches.
 
-Leading the Cougars in every appearance is Morgan Elston, who sports a team-best .333 batting average with four doubles, three home runs, nine RBI 14 walks and a team-leading 17 runs scored compared to just two strikeouts.
 
-Elizabeth Perdue has also saw the field in every game as she has the most home runs (5), hits (22) and is tied for the second-most triples (2) and doubles (3) behind her .324 batting average.
 
-The Cougars' ace is Darby Demarest (1.54 ERA, 72.2 IP), who has 112 strikeouts and holds a 5-3 record. Hannah Rose Corbin — a .314 hitter, going 16-for-51 at the plate with two doubles and triples plus four home runs and 16 RBI — contributes big innings in the circle, too, as she has a 2.33 ERA in 42 innings pitched with 42 strikeouts and a 5-2 record.