HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial University baseball team (7-12) split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Lamar Hennon Field with the Saints of Limestone (6-9), as Railsplitter Evan Porter set his career-high in strikeouts in game one, followed by a nail-biting LMU victory to conclude five hours of action on the diamond.  
 
Game 1 | Limestone 2, LMU 1
The seven-inning opener of the four-game series finished as the shortest game of the season (1 hour 25 minutes) and was a pitching duel between redshirt-sophomore Evan Porter and Jordan Adcox of Limestone. Freshly in the lineup in the lineup this week, Freshman DJ Alexander Jr. crushed his first home run of his collegiate career over the left field wall to break the silence in the bottom of the second. Porter kept the Saints quiet much of the first matchup, as his no-hitter wasn't broken up until the fourth inning. Limestone put the pressure on in the fifth, as two batters reached base for a Devon Cantey RBI single into rightfield to even the score.
 
The Saints carried their offensive spark into the top of the sixth, as Ben Huber's sacrifice fly proved to be the all-important RBI in the first contest. Both pitchers remained on the hill for all seven innings of action, as Ben Adcox posted the complete game victory. A career-day for redshirt-sophomore Porter, striking out a career-high eight batters.
 
Game 2 | LMU 6, Limestone 5
The Railsplitters gained the upper hand in game number two, following another thrilling one-run contest. In contrast to game one, the offensive spark broke out for both ball clubs as the bats came alive. LMU quickly loaded the bases up in the bottom of the first, scoring via a balk off Eric Mullinax. The Saints scored runs in consecutive innings in the second and the third, taking a narrow lead. A clutch two-out rally sparked the Railsplitter offense in the bottom of the third, following Tyler Adams and Brandon Parrott reaching base. Redshirt-sophomore Andrew Keene stepped to the plate and delivered, knocking a line-drive to left-center field, driving in both LMU baserunners to complete the two-out rally.  
 
A big inning for the Saints restored the Limestone advantage, pushing the lead out to 5-4. A double down the left field line for third baseman Ryan Kurth gained momentum for LMU and catcher Dalton Dedas advanced Kurth to third the ensuing at-bat. Center fielder Zach Fritts' ground out was enough to tie the ball game up. Graduate Brent Richey's tear continued in the bottom of the seventh, as the Knoxville native tripled-in the go-ahead run following Tyler Boyd's walk, as LMU held on to their one-run advantage for the final two innings. Richey's average through 19 contests this season now stands at .394.
 
Redshirt junior willed the Railsplitters through a nervy eighth innings, pitching through a bases loaded jam, keeping the Railsplitter lead at one. Reliver Eli Wright came on for the save in the top half of the ninth, retiring three-consecutive Saints to seal the victory.
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters wrap up the four-game series with Limestone Sunday afternoon in Harrogate. First pitches are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST.
 
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.