HARROGATE, Tenn. – Despite taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning and scoring a run late, the Lincoln Memorial University baseball team dropped its first midweek non-conference contest of 2020 to UVA Wise Wednesday afternoon at Lamar Hennon Field. The visiting Cavaliers used a two-run ninth frame to earn a 5-3 win behind 10 hits.
 
Overcoming a trio of errors in the field, UVA Wise tied things up in the third inning before taking a 3-1 lead in the sixth and scored two insurance runs in the final inning.
 
Errorless on defense, the Railsplitters struggled to find offense and scored just one run in the sixth and ninth innings with nine total hits on the afternoon.
 
With the loss, LMU drops to 6-13 as the Cavaliers improve to 10-7.
 
Following a scoreless opening inning, freshman catcher Sam Mast reached on a one-out UVA Wise throwing error and scored on the same play off of a second throwing error in the field. The lead would be short-lived, however, as the Cavs led off the third with a single, got a double and a walk, and then scored on an RBI groundout.
 
Neither team was able to score in the fourth and fifth innings before a one-out two RBI double to left center field by UVA Wise's Tyler Horvath in the top of the sixth made it a 3-1 game following a pair of leadoff singles.
 
The Railsplitters responded in the bottom of the inning, getting a leadoff triple to right center field from sophomore outfielder Scooter Ray. Moments later, junior first baseman Brandon Parrott flied out to left field for a sacrifice RBI to score Ray.
 
Two scoreless innings ensued before a two-out single to right field by Cavalier outfielder Matthew Branham loaded the bases for UVA Wise in the top of the ninth. Third baseman Hunter Meador then singled to center field for two RBI, stretching the Cavs' advantage to three at 5-2.
 
A leadoff single by Mast and then a passed ball gave LMU hope in the bottom of the ninth as redshirt senior pinch hitter Grady Wright doubled to right field to bring Mast across home plate, still with no outs. Trailing by two runs, the Railsplitters were unable to get anything else going were struck out twice by UVA Wise right-handed closer Tyler Hayes.
 
Senior designated hitter Dalton Dedas went 2-for-4 at the plate, while redshirt freshman right-handed reliever Alex Brewer (1-1) took the loss on mound after giving up two earned runs in three innings of work.
 
The Cavaliers got a 2-for-5, two RBI, one run performance from Meador and a 2-for-5 outing from Branham, who also had an RBI and a run scored. Horvath finished 2-for-4 at the dish with a pair of RBI.
 
Using seven arms, UVA Wise righty reliever Zack James (1-0) earned the win after tossing the fifth while Hayes earned his third save of the season with four strikeouts and only two hits allowed across the final two innings
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters step back into South Atlantic Conference play this weekend when they host Carson-Newman at Lamar Hennon Field for a three-game series beginning Friday at 4 p.m. Saturday, LMU faces the Eagles in a doubleheader beginning at 1 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.