HARROGATE, Tenn. – Paced by a 6-8 afternoon at the plate from sophomore Sierra Hucklebee and a grand total of 15 hits next to 14 runs, the Lincoln Memorial University Lady Railsplitter softball team defeated Maryville University and West Virginia State University back-to-back Sunday afternoon.

No. 13 LMU (3-1) started strong against the Saints (1-3) on their way to a 6-3 victory in part one of the doubleheader, and later avenged their three-run loss to WVSU (4-4) the night before with an emphatic 8-0 blowout.
 
Game 1 – No. 13 Lincoln Memorial def. Maryville 6-3
 
Hucklebee and junior Emma Webb's performances at bat were more than enough to allow the Lady Railsplitters to put the icing on the cake of a weekend sweep over the Saints. Less than 24 hours earlier, LMU rolled in their season with a dramatic 4-3 win over Maryville in an eight-inning affair.

The shortstop and first baseman went a combined 5-8 at the plate with three RBI in the three-run triumph. As it turned out, their days were just getting started.

The Lady Railsplitters wasted no time in getting the offense rolling, scoring twice in the first inning and four more times in the fourth period. With Ty-Kella Goins already on third base, a Maryville throwing error gave room for the preseason all-conference first-teamer to cruise in for the team's first run. Two batters later, Webb singled up the middle, allowing Hucklebee to find home for the 2-0 advantage.

With freshman pitcher Emma Frost making her first career start in the circle, LMU held the Saints scoreless through four innings. Runs were contagious for the blue and gray in that stretch, landing four unanswered to grasp a 6-0 lead.

An RBI-double from Hucklebee brought senior Savannah Daniel around the diamond, and later in the frame, Webb launched an RBI-single down left field to score Hucklebee. McKenzie Henry stole home thanks to a wild pitch, and Audrey Petoskey bombed a sacrifice fly-ball to bring Webb back full-circle.

Those six straight runs created a cushion large enough for LMU to hold onto the lead from there, withstanding 11 Maryville hits to come away with the victory.

The Saints began to mount a comeback in the top of the 5^th with a pair of scores, kickstarted on an RBI-double from Taylor Shingler to score pitcher Alyssa Callans. Shingler later found her way back home thanks to a left center double from Emily Frankenreiter, cutting the lead to four.

Maryville would only inch one run closer for the rest of the day, however. Jaclyn Pasakarnis stole third base and sprinted to home after an LMU throwing error in the top of the sixth, but a ground out from Shingler ended the rally there.

Frost grabbed the W in her debut, pitching five and two-thirds innings before Faith Howe relieved for the save.
 
Game 2 – No. 13 Lincoln Memorial def. West Virginia State 8-0 (6)
 
LMU utilized the mercy rule for the first time in 2020 in the second half of Saturday's doubleheader, pummeling the Yellow Jackets on a punishing batting attack and a very productive day in the circle for sophomore Bailey Griffith.

The White Bluff, TN native earned her second win of the year by throwing all six innings of the shortened contest, only giving up four hits while striking out four batters. Griffith's defensive lockdown paved the way for the Lady Railsplitters' explosion of offense.

Scoring at least once in four of their six trips at bat, LMU again did some damage in the bottom of the first, and again it was Hucklebee to get it going. The reigning South Atlantic Conference freshman of the year scored Goins on a left center double, one of her three hits in the contest.

Three more scores were on deck for the Lady Railsplitters in the second stanza after forcing a 1-2-3 on defense. They all came from one singular play, a three-RBI double from Hucklebee to score McKenzie Henry, Sami West, and Tori Voiles.

LMU duplicated that sequence across the fourth inning, giving up zero hits for three more runs. Once again, Hucklebee began the flurry on a line-drive past Yellow Jackets pitcher Emily Moore to bring home sophomore Kelsey Hoskins.

Goins would later score on a ground-out from Henry, and as Webb stole second base two batters later, Hucklebee dove into home plate on a throwing error to make it 7-0.

After a scoreless fifth period, the Lady Railsplitters put the game to bed in the bottom of the 6^th, and it was Hucklebee the culprit yet again. The starting shortstop doubled down center field, scoring Goins for the game-clincher.

With an absurd five RBI on a 3-4 effort, Hucklebee was followed closely by Goins, who herself added a 2-3 performance at bat. Those two combined for three doubles in the eight-run shellacking.

Up Next
 
After winning three of four matchups at Dorothy Neely Field, the Lady Railsplitters hit the road for the first time on Wednesday evening, taking on the North Greenville Crusaders in Tigerville, South Carolina for a non-conference two-parter. Game-times are scheduled for 2:00 and 4:00 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 more LMU softball coverage.