KODAK, Tenn. – Ethan Elliott hurled another gem while Chris Salvey and Will Reddick blasted two-run home runs as the second-seeded Railsplitters advanced to the winner's bracket of the 2019 Pilot Flying J South Atlantic Conference Baseball Championship with a 6-0 win over fifth-seeded Wingate on Friday evening at Smokies Stadium. 
 
Lincoln Memorial (33-15), which is looking to win its third straight SAC tournament title, will face the winner of Catawba vs. Tusculum at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, while Wingate (31-17) plays an elimination game against Anderson at noon that same day with the loss. 
 
Elliott – a senior left-hander and All-SAC first team selection – was as dominant as ever in leading the Railsplitters into the winner's bracket, blanking the Bulldogs over eight brilliant innings of work. The 2018 SAC Pitcher of the Year, who was edged in his bid for a second straight conference pitcher of the year honor by Tusculum's Charles Hall, allowed a first-inning single, a leadoff single in the fifth and a two-out single in the seventh, but no other hits. 
 
He struck out 11 and walked just two while allowing just one runner to reach scoring position. That came in the top of the seventh inning when Tanner Forry drew a two-out walk and advanced to third on McCann Mellett's single, but Elliott picked off Mellett to end the threat. 
 
Elliott worked four three-up, three-down innings to improve to 11-2 on the season, win his eighth consecutive start and match Scot Shields for the single-season wins record at Lincoln Memorial. 
 
The Railsplitter offense provided plenty of support for Elliott, outhitting the Bulldogs 7-3 while accounting for all three extra-base hits in the game. 
 
Reddick got the scoring started for Lincoln Memorial in the bottom of the second inning when he snuck a two-run shot just over the wall and inside the right field foul pole. Nate Stinson scored on the play after reaching via an error. 
 
Two innings later, Salvey doubled the Railsplitters' lead with a no-doubt, opposite-field home run, his 11th of the season. An error sparked that rally as well as Tyler Adams led off the frame by reaching via a miscue from the Wingate third baseman. 
 
Lincoln Memorial then added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Alex Allen led off the fifth with a single and scored on Dalton Dedas' two-out single. Allen then drove home another two-out run for the Railsplitters in the sixth, scoring Brent Richey after he set the table with a two-out double. 
 
Devin Morris closed things out for the Railsplitters after tossing a scoreless ninth, allowing just one walk while striking out one. 
 
Alex Rodriguez took the loss for the Bulldogs, falling to 3-4 on the season after giving up four hits and five runs (two earned) over five innings of work. The righty struck out eight without issuing a walk before giving way to a pair of Wingate relievers.