HARROGATE, Tenn. – Freshman third baseman Mason Kelley rocked a full-count pitch for an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning Saturday afternoon in Lincoln Memorial University baseball's home opener, but the Railsplitters left base runners stranded late and could not overcome a five-run deficit in a 6-2 loss to visiting Ohio Valley University. The Fighting Scots (1-3) out of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference jumped out to a 3-0 lead after a three-run third inning and added scores in the sixth, seventh and eighth frames.
 
LMU (1-4), who entered the weekend having gone 117-47 (.713) at Lamar Hennon Field across the previous seven seasons, threatened runs in the seventh and ninth innings but was unable to bring anyone across home plate after getting within two in the fifth.
 
Following two scoreless innings, a one-out walk in the top of the third led to a Jake Blevins single up the middle as Ohio Valley put a runner in scoring position. Fighting Scot right fielder Giovanni Aiuto then connected on a two-out, two RBI double to left field with shortstop Bryce Strawderman and Blevins scoring. Moments later, designated hitter Gavin Kennard reached on a Railsplitter throwing error allowing Aiuto to score an unearned run.
 
Unable to respond in the fifth, LMU claimed a run in the bottom of the fifth off of Kelley's bat. A leadoff double to right field by redshirt senior first baseman Grady Wright paved the way for Kelley to knock in an RBI single to right field to make it a 3-1 score.
 
Ohio Valley went back up by three in the top of the sixth when Aiuto led off with a double to left field before Kennard got hit by a pitch and third baseman Kade Phillips singled to right field for an RBI. The Fighting Scots went ahead 5-1 in the top of the seventh on an Aiuto sacrifice fly to center field following a pair of singles and a wild pitch.
 
Freshman designated hitter Jacob Critzer led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right field and sophomore right fielder Scooter Ray hit a one-out single through the left side to give the Railsplitters a runner in scoring position. However, a flyout and a lineout quickly ended the inning.
 
Scoring it sixth and final run of the afternoon in the top of the eighth, Ohio Valley got a one-out double from Phillips and a passed ball. With two outs, Phillips scored an unearned run when centerfielder Juan Lopez singled up the middle for an RBI.
 
Trailing by five at 6-1, LMU went to work in the bottom of the frame beginning with a Dalton Dedas one-out walk. Redshirt senior shortstop Zuriel Collins reached on a fielder's choice with senior catcher Dedas advancing to third and then scoring on a Fighting Scot throwing error. Dedas' run making it 6-2, the Railsplitters had chances in the ninth starting with a Ray one-out double to left center field and a passed ball. LMU got runners in the corners with two outs when freshman second baseman Max Palmieri was walked, but with two outs a fly ball to left field ended the game.
 
Ray finished 2-for-4 at the plate and freshman left-handed pitcher Matt Grim made his collegiate debut in the ninth, retiring the side in order. Redshirt sophomore right-handed starter Evan Porter (0-2) took the loss on the hill, striking out six and walking one in 25 batters faced across five and 1/3 innings.
 
Ohio Valley's Aiuto went 2-for-4 at the plate with a trio of RBI and a pair of runs, while Lopez, Blevins and left fielder Mitchell Lohr were all 2-for-5. Right-handed starter Leonardo Diaz (1-0) tossed six and 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking one in 24 batters faced to collect the win on the mound.
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters continue their three-game series with the Fighting Scots Sunday afternoon at Lamar Hennon Field, hosting a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. Next weekend, LMU travels to the Sunshine State for a three-game series at Florida Southern in Lakeland, Florida, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14-15.  
 
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.