ANDERSON, S.C. – Behind redshirt junior left fielder Andrew Keene's monster day at the plate and strong game two pitching, the Lincoln Memorial University baseball team split a pair of games at Anderson University Saturday afternoon to begin South Atlantic Conference play. The Railsplitters (2-2, 1-1 SAC) scored a season-high 12 runs en route to a 12-3 game two victory after the Trojans (2-1, 1-1 SAC) earned an 8-3 win in the weekend series opener.
 
A pair of game two home runs by Keene highlighted his 4-for-6, four RBI day as LMU was able to recover from a spotty opening contest. A combined 12 RBI in the second tilt and six solid innings on the mound from redshirt sophomore right-hander Evan Porter allowed the Railsplitters to even up the four-game set at a game apiece heading into Sunday's doubleheader.
 
Game 2 | LMU 12, Anderson 3
Collecting his first win of the season, Porter fanned six batters and allowed just four hits and a run in six innings of work as Keene and graduate third baseman Tyler Adams combined for six RBI. LMU scored two runs in each the second, third and fourth innings and used a four-run ninth frame without a hit to secure the triumph.
 
After scoring just three runs in the entirety of the first game, the Railsplitters reached home plate twice in the second inning. A single to center field by freshman designated hitter Ryan Kurth set up freshman second baseman Tyler Boyd for a two RBI single as both Keene and Kurth scored. Anderson responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-out RBI single, but it would be the Trojans' lone run until the eighth.
 
A leadoff double from redshirt junior first baseman Brandon Parrott in the third inning put Adams in position for a sacrifice flyout to right field after Parrott reached third on a wild pitch. Keene then stepped to the plate and rocked a solo shot over the left field wall to give LMU a 4-1 lead.
 
In the fourth inning, Adams stepped to the plate with two outs following a Scooter Ray leadoff walk and a single to left field by graduate centerfielder Brent Richey and connected on a two RBI single to left field. Leading 6-1, the Railsplitters got a seventh run in the top of the fifth when bases became loaded with a trio of walks. A fourth walk in the inning gave Richey an RBI and LMU a 7-1 advantage as Kurth made it home.
 
Keene smacked his second dinger of the day in the top of the sixth with one out, going back over left field to extend the Railsplitter lead to 8-1.
 
Following a scoreless seventh, the Trojans got something going in the bottom of the eighth after back-to-back groundouts to start the inning. A pair of walks and a balk allowed centerfielder Chandler Castleberry to double to left field for two RBI with right fielder Dalton Shaw and designated hitter Nick Vella scoring. However, LMU was able to put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth.
 
A leadoff Anderson error got Boyd on base before redshirt sophomore right fielder Ray was walked and graduate shortstop Zuriel Collins was hit by a pitch. The pitching woes continued for the Trojans with Richey being walked for his second RBI of the game as Boyd scored. Parrott then reached on a fielder's choice RBI to put the Railsplitters up 10-3 and Keene and Kurth were both walked with bases loaded, giving LMU its final two runs of the day with Collins and Parrott scoring.
 
Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Mason Turner entered in the bottom of the ninth and closed out the game by retiring the side in order and striking out one.
 
Richey went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI, a run scored and two walks, while Keene was 2-for-3 with three RBI, three runs and three walks. Kurth went 2-for-4 with an RBI, two runs and a pair of walks.
 
Redshirt junior right-hander Ryan Franklin and freshman lefty Trey Schulz each tossed an inning in relief.
 
Anderson right-hander Sebastian Martinez (0-1) took the loss on the mound after throwing three and 1/3 innings and giving up six earned runs.
 
Game 1 | Anderson 8, LMU 3
The Trojans used a five-run, five-hit third inning and stiff pitching in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames to get the win in the seven-inning series opener. Despite Richey's 3-for-4 outing and Keene's 2-for-3 performance, the Railsplitters were unable to slow down Anderson's offensive explosion in the fifth.
 
A Richey leadoff double began the game and Parrott drove in Richey with an RBI double to right field to give LMU a 1-0 lead after the top of the first. A solo homer by the Trojans' Vella in the bottom of the first knotted things up at 1-1 before Anderson took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Trojan second baseman Jacob Kohns hit a one-out RBI single and left fielder Cody Adams got an RBI on a fielder's choice as third baseman Trevor Weisner scored.
 
The Railsplitters responded in the third, getting another leadoff hit from Richey on a single to center field. Keene flied out to right field for a sacrifice with Richey tagging home plate to make it a one-run affair at 3-2.
 
Anderson would get a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third before taking a 4-2 lead on a Tyler Berry RBI single. The Trojans then got an RBI double from first baseman Brayden Owens and a sacrifice flyout to center field from Cody Adams. With two outs, Anderson pushed ahead 8-2 behind a Shaw RBI single to right field and a Vella RBI double to right field. A Castleberry strikeout finally ended the inning.
 
Both teams came up empty the ensuing three innings before LMU attempted to get back into the game in the top of the seventh. Keene connected on a one-out triple to center field before graduate catcher Dalton Dedas knocked a two-out single for an RBI. However, a fly ball to left field quickly ended the series opener.
 
Vella went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Trojans with two RBI and a run scored, while both Shaw and Weisner were 2-for-3.
 
Redshirt freshman righty Alex Brewer (0-1) took the loss on the rubber after going two and 2/3 innings and striking out two. Fellow redshirt freshman right-hander David Brian Ellison made his second appearance of the season, throwing three and 1/3 innings without allowing a run and giving up just two hits.
 
Anderson left-hander Andrew Imperatore (1-0) got the win on the mound after tallying four strikeouts in four innings of work. Righty Will McSwain picked up a save with three strikeouts across the final three innings.
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters return to Anderson Memorial Field Sunday afternoon for another doubleheader with the Trojans. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m. LMU steps out of league play Tuesday for a 3 p.m. midweek matchup at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.  
 
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 2021 season, including any schedule changes.