SALISBURY, N.C. – In a midweek non-conference road matchup with the 20th-ranked team in the nation, the Lincoln Memorial University baseball team hung tough and lined 13 hits for 10 runs but ultimately fell 13-10 to Catawba College Wednesday evening at Newman Park in Salisbury, North Carolina. The Railsplitters (6-11) scored seven runs across the sixth through eighth innings but were unable to slow down an Indian offense that reached home plate in all but the seventh frame.
 
The two squads combined for 29 hits as host Catawba (12-4) tallied 16 and was aided by four LMU errors in the field. Despite the Railsplitters allowing 13 total runs, six of the Indians' runs were unearned with both pitching staffs fanning nine batters.
 
An opening inning sacrifice fly to right field by Catawba shortstop Jeremy Simpson gave the Indians a 1-0 lead before LMU tied things up at 1-1 in the top of the second. Redshirt freshman catcher Sam Mast got a hold of his second career home run, blasting a solo shot over the center field wall with one out in the top of the second inning.
 
A four-hit, three-run bottom second frame put Catawba up 4-1 with a two RBI double to left field by centerfielder Bryce Butler and an RBI double to right field by right fielder Lee Poteat. Once again the Railsplitters responded in the following inning, scoring a pair of runs on three hits in the top of the third. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Walker Hennon led off with a double to left field and redshirt freshman shortstop Cameron Bowen smacked an RBI double to left field for Hennon to score. Bowen then scored on a balk following a flyout to make it a one-run game at 4-3.
 
Two Indian hits and two LMU errors led to four unearned Catawba runs in the bottom of the third. Left fielder Trenton Walsh reached on an error after a walk and a wild pitch as third baseman Cameron Mills scored, and Walsh made it home when Butler reached on an error. An RBI single to center field by first baseman Hunter Shepherd pushed the Indians in front 7-3 and a second Simpson sacrifice flyout to right field extended their lead to 8-3.
 
Holding the Railsplitters to one hit between the fourth and fifth innings, Catawba took an eight-run advantage. Scoring twice on a trio of hits in the bottom of the fourth, the Indians got a two-out triple from second baseman Joe Butts and a Butler RBI single to third base. In the fifth, Catawba scored an unearned run when Mills reached on a fielder's choice for an RBI with Simpson, who reached on LMU's third error, tagging home to make it 11-3.
 
A big sixth inning with four runs on four hits got the Railsplitters back within four. Freshman second baseman Tyler Boyd connected on a double to left field following a leadoff hit by pitch to set up Bowen for an RBI groundout. Then three RBI singles from graduate right fielder Brent Richey, redshirt sophomore centerfielder Zach Fritts, who had back-to-back steals in the inning, and graduate third baseman Tyler Adams closed the gap to 11-7.
 
The Indians' Simpson notched an RBI single to third base in the bottom of the sixth following LMU's fourth error, making it a five-run affair at 12-7.
 
After a scoreless seventh, the Railsplitters posted three runs on three hits in the top of the eighth to reduce the deficit to two at 12-10. Bowen led off with a double to left field and scored on a wild pitch after a Richey hit by pitch and a bunt single from Fritts. A one-out two RBI double to right field by freshman designated hitter Ryan Kurth represented LMU's final two runs of the day.
 
Catawba added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a Shepherd RBI single to second base before a three-up, three-down top of the ninth ended the game.
 
Bowen, Kurth, Hennon, Fritts and Richey all collected multiple hits with Bowen and Kurth both recording a pair of RBI.
 
Shepherd finished 4-for-5 at the plate for the Indians with two RBI, while Poteat was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Simpson 2-for-4 with three RBI. Butler also registered a trio of RBI on 2-for-5 hitting and scored twice.
 
Redshirt freshman right-handed starter David Brian Ellison (0-2) took the loss after two innings with a strikeout, walk, wild pitch and four earned runs allowed. Freshman lefty Trey Schulz struck out a team-high three in two innings of relief. Freshmen right-handers Brennan Murphy and Mason Malone, along with redshirt junior right-hander Mason Turner, did not give up an earned run and struck out four in three combined innings.
 
Left-handed reliever Kenny Dollenger (1-0) picked up the win on the mound after tossing one and 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and only two hits allowed. Righty Robbie Cowie didn't allow a hit over the last one and 2/3 innings and struck out two to secure his third save of the season.
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters return to the friendly confines of Lamar Hennon Field this weekend where they will host Limestone University in a four-game set Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14. Both day's doubleheaders are slated for a 1 p.m. start with game two taking place at 4 p.m. or shortly thereafter. Each doubleheader will feature a seven-inning game one and a nine-inning game two.
 
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.