LAKELAND, Fla. – Saturday afternoon at Henley Field in Lakeland, Florida, the Lincoln Memorial University baseball team was unable to slow down the hot bats of Florida Southern in a pair of afternoon losses. Supplying just seven runs on 12 hits, the Railsplitters (3-7) were swept in the doubleheader as the 30th-ranked Moccasins (8-2) scored 18 runs on 23 hits across 16 innings.
 
Following a 10-1 game one setback, LMU held a 2-0 lead through one-and-a-half innings in the series finale but was defeated 8-6 in seven innings. Florida Southern completed the weekend series sweep of the Railsplitters with four doubles, a triple and a home run on the day.
 
Game One | rv/No. 30 Florida Southern 10, LMU 1
Collecting 13 hits in the affair, the Mocs scored a trio of runs in the second, fourth and seventh innings with LMU only able to score in the top of the fifth.
 
A three-run shot over the right field wall by Florida Southern center fielder Tor Sehnert in the home portion of the second gave the hosts a 3-0 lead before the Mocs tacked on a run in the third off a Zach Scott RBI single through the left side.
 
First baseman Jacob Teter knocked in a two RBI single to right field following a pair of singles and a walk in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 6-0 game for Florida Southern. Moments later, Scott collected his second RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
Crossing home plate for the lone time of the outing in the top of the fifth, the Railsplitters got a leadoff hit-by-pitch from sophomore right fielder Scooter Ray. Freshman third baseman Mason Kelly then singled down the left field line to place runners in the corners before senior catcher Henry Moore hit into a double play, allowing Ray to score.
 
Leading 7-1 going into the seventh, the Mocs added three more runs in the bottom half. Right fielder Christian Maglich earned Florida Southern's second sacrifice fly of the day after a leadoff single to center field and a double down the left field line. The Mocs made it a nine-run game at 10-1 when catcher Santino Miozzi doubled to right center field for a pair of RBI.
 
Unable to reach base on a hit in the final two innings of the contest, LMU loaded the bases in the top of the ninth due to three hit batters but left all three stranded.
 
Freshman center fielder Collin Goda had two of the Railsplitters' five hits in the game, while Florida Southern designated hitter Zach Diewert went 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and Scott 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run.
 
Junior Hillsborough Community College transfer right-hander Beau Nichols (0-2) got the start on the mound and went two and 1/3 innings with a trio of strikeouts before sophomore right-hander Patrick Queener struck out five in three and 2/3 innings of relief work.
 
Righty Brant Brown (1-0) threw five complete to notch the win for the Mocs, striking out four and walking none in 19 batters faced.
 
Game Two | rv/No. 30 Florida Southern 8, LMU 6 (7)
Using a two-run second inning and a four-run fifth, the Railsplitters attempted a comeback in the weekend's final game after falling behind 7-2 in the third.
 
After scoreless opening inning, LMU got a pair of singles from junior Chattanooga State transfer first baseman Brandon Parrott and Ray in the top of the second. Freshman catcher Sam Mast then stepped to the plate and smacked an RBI double down the left field line to drive in Parrott. A sacrifice fly to center field by redshirt senior second baseman Zuriel Collins brought home Ray to give the Blue and Gray a 2-0 lead.
 
However, the Railsplitters' advantage would be short-lived as Florida Southern scored six runs on five hits in the bottom of the inning. A wild pitch made it 2-1 after a leadoff walk, single and sacrifice bunt and an LMU error tied things up at 2-2. An RBI single to center field by Teter followed by a Scott RBI single to right field gave the home team a 4-2 lead before Diewert made it a 6-2 game with a two RBI double down the left field line.
 
The Mocs added a run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly to center field by shortstop Kyler Marquis to pull in front by five.
 
A big fifth inning got the Railsplitters within one beginning with a pair of walks and an RBI single to third base by senior designated hitter Nate Stinson. Ray was walked for an RBI to make it 7-4 and freshman third baseman Mason Kelley got LMU within two when he reached on a Florida Southern error for an RBI and Stinson scored. Parrott scored his second run of the afternoon on a bases-loaded passed ball to give the Railsplitters their fourth run of the inning and make it 7-6. With bases still loaded and no outs LMU looked to take the lead but three-straight strikeouts swinging abruptly closed the frame.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the Mocs got a leadoff triple from Marquis and scored on a Teter sacrifice fly to right field. Playing only seven innings, the Railsplitters got a one-out single to left field from Mast in the top of the seventh but a double play quickly ended the day.
 
Ray finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI, run scored and walk and Mast went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
 
Sophomore right-hander Devin Morris (1-2) took the loss on the hill after giving up two earned runs in two innings and striking out one of 17 batters faced. Senior righty Hudson Widrig and sophomore right-hander Eli Wright combined for the final four innings in relief, allowing just one run a piece.
 
Florida Southern's Marquis went 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a pair of runs scored, while left fielder Alan Burnsed was 2-for-2 with a run and a walk.
 
Right-handed reliever Michael DeSanti (2-0) earned the win for Florida Southern following one and 2/3 innings, striking out two and allowing just one hit in eight batters faced. Lefty Thomas Spinelli collected his second save of the season with five strikeouts over the final three innings.
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters return home to Tennessee for their first midweek non-conference game of 2020 Wednesday afternoon. LMU takes on local Conference Carolinas foe King in a 3:30 p.m. first pitch at Lamar Hennon Field.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Railsplitter baseball throughout the 2020 season.