CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Facing a tough Lee University squad who received votes in Collegiate Baseball's 2021 preseason NCAA Division II poll, the Lincoln Memorial University baseball team was unable to get things going offensively Wednesday afternoon in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Railsplitters (3-4) were held to three hits and just one run in an 8-1 non-conference road loss.
 
The host Flames (9-1) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning and tacked on three runs in both the fifth and seventh frames off the bat of first baseman Ryan Beamish to secure the midweek win. Hitless through the first four innings, LMU was finally able to get ahold of the ball in the fifth and scored on an RBI triple from redshirt sophomore centerfielder Zach Fritts in the sixth.
 
Lee's Beamish was the difference in the matchup, taking two pitches over the left field wall at Larry Carpenter Stadium at Olympic Field and accounting for six of the Flames' eight runs.
 
A first-inning Railsplitter error in the field did not help LMU's cause as Lee third baseman Alan Smith reached first base on the play and shortstop Luke Hughes scored after leading off with a double. Following a wild pitch and a Beamish base-advancing groundout, Flame second baseman Colton Yeager singled through the left side for an RBI.
 
Leaving eight base runners stranded across the nine innings, the Railsplitters were unable to drive anyone home in the first and second frames despite redshirt junior first baseman Brandon Parrott and Fritts both reaching third. Graduate right fielder Brent Richey led off the fifth with a single to right field and Parrott followed with a single through the left side. However, a double play and a flyout quickly squandered any chances of LMU scoring.
 
Beamish connected on a 2-0 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, increasing Lee's lead to 5-0 with a three RBI home run.
 
In the top of the sixth, redshirt freshman catcher Sam Mast reached on a Flame throwing error before being brought in by Fritts' triple down the right field line. The extra-base RBI would be the Railsplitters' last base knock of the day.
 
Another three-run shot by Beamish, this time on a one-out, full-count pitch in the bottom of the seventh, put Lee ahead 8-1. After a Richey leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, the arms of right-handed relievers Alan Rickman and Jax Howard nearly retired LMU's entire lineup in order to end the game.
 
The Flames' Beamish finished 2-for-4 with six RBI and two runs scored. Right-handed Lee starter Alan Carter (1-0) struck out four in two innings on the mound to collect the win.
 
Redshirt freshman right-hander David Brian Ellison (0-1) got the start on the rubber and went three full innings, striking out one and allowing only one earned run. True freshman righty Brennan Murphy struck out two in one inning of relief work.
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters return to South Atlantic Conference play this weekend when LMU hosts Mars Hill for a four-game set Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28. Both doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at Lamar Hennon Field in Harrogate are slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
 
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.