HARROGATE, Tenn. – Returning  to the friendly confines of Lamar Hennon Field and stepping back into South Atlantic Conference play, the Lincoln Memorial University baseball team rode its offense for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader split with Mars Hill University. The Railsplitters, who moved to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in league action, claimed a 10-6 game two victory behind 11 hits and five combined RBI from redshirt junior first baseman Brandon Parrott and graduate catcher Dalton Dedas after the visiting Lions (3-4, 3-3 SAC) squeaked out a 6-5 series opener.
 
Scoring 15 total runs off of 18 combined hits across the doubleheader, LMU didn't allow Mars Hill to score in the final four innings of either contest. After falling behind 6-0 in the first game of the four-game set, the Railsplitters nearly made a comeback before getting insurance runs off the bats of Dedas and graduate third baseman Tyler Adams to secure the game two win.
 
Game 2 | LMU 10, Mars Hill 6
Scoring at least two runs in four of the first five innings, LMU held the Lions to just one run through four innings and built a 7-1 lead.
 
After designated hitter Ruben Trillo connected on a two-out RBI single through the right side to give Mars Hill a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Railsplitters went in front for the first time of the day in the bottom of the inning. Graduate right fielder Brent Richey led things off with a hit by pitch, setting up Parrott for an RBI triple to right field. Moments later, Parrott scored on a wild pitch to give LMU a 2-1 advantage.
 
With redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Evan Porter in control on the mound, the Railsplitters scored a trio of runs in the bottom of the second. LMU's first two batters in the frame, Dedas and redshirt freshman second baseman Cameron Bowen, were walked before redshirt sophomore centerfielder Zach Fritts was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch then scored Dedas to make it 3-1 and Parrott reached on a Lion fielding error as both Fritts and Bowen reached home plate.
 
Following a scoreless third, the Railsplitters tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. A one-out single to right field by graduate shortstop Zuriel Collins got things going before Richey singled to left field and advanced to second on another Mars Hill fielding error, allowing Collins to score an unearned run. Leading 6-1 LMU's seventh run of the game came on a Parrott RBI sacrifice fly to center field.
 
The Lions would scratch their way back in the top of the fifth, lining five hits for five runs and benefitting off a Railsplitter throwing error in the infield. After a leadoff single and a fielder's choice with the defensive error put two on with no outs, Mars Hill got an RBI double to left field from left fielder Kameron Reynolds. A Jordan Lathe RBI single through the left side made it a 7-3 score and after a hit by pitch and a strikeout, Trillo doubled to left field for three RBI to get the Lions within one at 7-6.
 
The Railsplitters responded in the bottom half of the inning, leading off with an Andrew Keene single to right field. Freshman designated hitter Ryan Kurth then singled through the left side before Dedas stepped to the plate and crushed a two-run shot over the left field wall, putting LMU ahead 9-6. In the bottom of the sixth it was Adams who launched one over left field with two outs to give the Railsplitters a 10-6 lead they would not relinquish. His solo shot was Adams' 30th homer of his career, moving the Woodstock, Georgia (Etowah HS), native into a tie for third place with Mason Ewers (2014-18) on LMU's all-time home run leaders list.
 
The relief arms of right-handed redshirt freshman David Brian Ellison, freshman righty Brennan Murphy and redshirt sophomore right-hander Eli Wright did not allow a hit in the last three innings. Murphy struck out two and Wright retired the side in order in the top of the ninth.
 
Kurth went 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored, while Parrott claimed three RBI and Dedas two RBI and two runs. Redshirt junior left fielder Andrew Keene finished 2-for-4 with a walk.
 
Mars Hill's Trillo had a 3-for-3, four RBI performance at the plate as Lathe went 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs and a walk.
 
Porter (2-0) got the win on the rubber, tossing six complete with four strikeouts and no walks. Lion right-hander Cameron Howell (0-2) took the loss after throwing the opening three innings and giving up four earned runs with a pair of walks, two wild pitches and four strikeouts.
 
Game 1 | Mars Hill 6, LMU 5
A big third inning for both teams resulted in a 6-3 lead for the visitors after Mars Hill led 6-0 through two and a half. Shutting out the Lions in the fourth through seventh, the Railsplitters were unable to score more than a run in the fourth and fifth frames.
 
After a scoreless opening inning, Mars Hill took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second off a hard-hit, two-out launch by first baseman Scottie Lee. Despite having chances to score in the bottom of the second with Dedas reaching third base on a wild pitch and Fritts stealing second after a walk, LMU couldn't bring anybody home. The Lions racked up five runs on five hits in the top of the third, getting things started with a one-out Lathe double to left field. Third baseman Tyler Lala doubled through the left side for two RBI and catcher Trevor Bailey made it a 5-0 game with a double to left field. An Austin Treadway single with a Railsplitter fielding error on the play allowed Bailey to score, giving Mars Hill a commanding six-run advantage.
 
Four hits and a Lion error in the bottom of the third got LMU within three as a Richey double to center field led off the inning. Adams doubled to right field to score Richey and Keene singled through the left side to score Adams. Following a Mars Hill fielding error in the outfield on Keene's hit, Kurth singled through the right side for an RBI with Keene scoring to make it 6-3.
 
A Fritts one-out double and a stolen base in the fourth led to Richey being intentionally walked with two outs. Fritts was then able to steal home when Richey attempted to steal second base but was caught in a run-down situation and successfully made it back to first. The Railsplitters would load the bases on a passed ball, Parrott walk, wild pitch and Adams walk but were unable to do anymore damage.
 
Kurth led off the bottom of the fifth by reaching second base on a second Lion fielding error and reached third on a wild pitch. Dedas was then able to bring in Kurth on a groundout, getting LMU within one at 6-5. However, the Railsplitters were held without a hit for the remainder of the game and left a base runner stranded at second base in both the sixth and seventh.
 
Redshirt junior right-handed relievers Ryan Franklin and Mason Turner were excellent in the final four frames, combining to strike out five and not allowing a hit nor giving up a walk.
 
Redshirt freshman right-hander Alex Brewer (0-2) took the loss on the mound, striking out two in three full innings but allowing all six earned runs. Mars Hill lefty starter AJ Chacon (2-0) went five innings to earn the win, totaling five strikeouts and giving up three earned runs. Right-handed reliever Carlton Jackson got his first save of the season by striking out two in the seventh and final inning.
 
Up Next…
LMU wraps up its four-game series with the Lions Monday afternoon in Harrogate. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. The Railsplitters then begin a six-game road trip Wednesday afternoon at Lenoir-Rhyne for midweek non-conference action beginning at 4 p.m. Next weekend, LMU travels to Wingate, North Carolina, for a four-game set with the Bulldogs Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7.
 
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.