CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Lincoln Memorial University baseball team suffered an 8-3 road loss Friday afternoon to open up South Atlantic Conference play at Queens University of Charlotte, committing five errors in the field and giving up three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
With the game one setback, the Railsplitters drop to 4-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play while the Royals earned their first win of 2020.
 
Senior outfielder Brent Richey cranked out his fifth home run of the season with a two-run shot over the left field wall in the top of the eighth and finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of runs scored. However, five runs on five hits by Queens across the seventh and eighth frames secured the series opener for the hosts.
 
After an inning and a half of scoreless ball, the Royals got an unearned run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second following a pair of LMU errors. The Railsplitters tied things up in the top of the fourth on an RBI single to right field by senior infielder Tyler Adams, scoring Richey who led off the inning with a single to left field.
 
A two RBI double to left center field in the bottom of the fifth broke the tie and put Queens up 3-1 before the Royals added a pair of unearned runs in the seventh inning. A one-out LMU error paved the way for a Queens sacrifice fly and a second error by the Railsplitters in the inning gave the home team a commanding 5-1 advantage.
 
Freshman infielder Max Palmieri knocked in a two-out double to left field in the top of the eighth prior to Richey's homer making it a 5-3 game.
 
Four hits led to a trio of runs for the Royals in the bottom of the eighth as back-to-back RBI triples by left fielder RJ Conner and designated hitter Noah Jones came after a leadoff single. Moments later, Jones reached home plate on a passed ball to give Queens the five-run lead.
 
Royal shortstop Drake Harris went 2-for-4 at the plate on the day with two RBI and a pair of runs.
 
Sophomore right-hander Devin Morris (1-3) got the start on the mound and went five complete, striking out seven but walking five in 27 batters faced. Queens righty Nick Charleson (1-2) collected the win on the hill after tossing seven and 2/3 innings and striking out six with only one walk, while right-handed closer Zach Kelly (1) earned his first save of the season with a strikeout in the final one and 1/3 frames.
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters take on the Royals in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. Following this weekend's series, LMU returns to Lamar Hennon Field for a midweek non-conference affair with Lee University Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
 
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.