HARROGATE, Tenn. – After being held to just four hits and two runs in the series opener, the Lincoln Memorial University baseball team lined nine hits and scored five runs to upset 22nd-ranked Tusculum University 5-4 in game two of Saturday afternoon's doubleheader. Upending the South Atlantic Conference-leading Pioneers (15-4, 11-3 SAC) at Lamar Hennon Field behind nine hits and zero errors, the Railsplitters (9-14, 8-10 SAC) recovered from a 10-2 setback in game one of the four-game weekend set.
 
LMU lined 13 hits on the day and stole seven bags as the two teams combined for five errors in the first game before playing an errorless affair.
 
Game 2 | LMU 5, No. 22 Tusculum 4
A three-hit, two-run bottom seventh inning propelled the Railsplitters to a game two victory thanks to an RBI single up the middle by graduate third baseman Tyler Adams and a sacrifice fly to right field from redshirt sophomore left fielder Andrew Keene.
 
Tusculum built a 3-0 lead in the first two innings, getting an RBI triple to right field with one out in the top of the first from second baseman Daulton Martin and scoring twice in the top of the second. A sacrifice fly to center field by centerfielder Kyle Williams and a two-out wild pitch gave the Pioneers a three-run advantage they would hold until the bottom of the fifth.
 
Hitless through the first three innings, LMU constructed a run in the fifth with only one hit. Freshman second baseman Tyler Boyd knocked a double to center field with one out and advanced to third on a balk before graduate shortstop Zuriel Collins was walked. Graduate right fielder Brent Richey then grounded out for an RBI, brining in Boyd to make it a 3-1 game.
 
The Railsplitters knotted things up in the bottom of the sixth with a trio of hits. A Keene one-out double down the right field line set up freshman designated hitter DJ Alexander, Jr., who doubled to left field for an RBI. Redshirt freshman catcher Sam Mast's two-out RBI single to center field with Alexander, Jr. scoring evened the score at 3-3.
 
Keeping Tusculum without a hit for three consecutive innings in the sixth through eighth frames, LMU took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh. Collins led off the inning with a single before redshirt junior first baseman Brandon Parrott connected on a one-out single through the right side, brining up Adams to punch his go-ahead RBI single up the middle to score Collins. Adams then stole second base and Keene's RBI sacrifice fly allowed Parrott to tag up and reach home.
 
The Pioneers would get two hits in the top of the ninth and score their final run of the day on a one-out Martin RBI single through the right side. A swinging strikeout and a lineout to center field shut the door on the upset.
 
Parrott went 2-for-4 at the plate and Collins 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk. Adams was 1-for-3 with his go-ahead RBI and a walk.
 
Both Martin and right fielder Brandon Trammell recorded two hits in the nine innings for Tusculum with Martin's two RBI leading all batters.
 
Redshirt freshman right-hander Alex Brewer got the starting nod on the mound, striking out one in three innings. Redshirt junior right-hander Bryce Woody tossed two innings of one-hit ball in relief with a pair of strikeouts and redshirt junior righty Mason Turner (1-0) got the win after not allowing a hit and striking out one in an inning of work. Redshirt sophomore right-handed hurler Eli Wright picked up his third save of the season with two strikeouts in the ninth.
 
Pioneer lefty Nick Flesher struck out five in five and 2/3 innings before right-handed reliever Justin Parker (1-1) took the loss after giving up two earned runs in an inning on the rubber.
 
Game 1 | No. 22 Tusculum 10, LMU 2
A five-run seventh inning stretched Tusculum's lead out to eight as the Pioneers scored 10 runs on 11 hits and benefited from three Railsplitter errors in the field. Five of Tusculum's scores in the scheduled seven innings came via unearned runs.
 
The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and tacked on three more runs in the top of the third with LMU scoring in the bottom of the second and fourth innings.
 
A two RBI single to left field from Tusculum designated hitter Trey Hinton scored the first runs of the afternoon and represented one of four Pioneer hits in the top of the second. The Railsplitters responded in the bottom of the frame when Alexander, Jr. stole home plate with one out after being walked, stealing second base and reaching third base on a Boyd single to right field.
 
A leadoff double to right field by Tusculum shortstop Bryson Ford in the top of the third set up back-to-back sacrifice flies after a wild pitch. The Pioneers then made it 5-1 with an RBI single from third baseman Jaden Steagall scoring an unearned run due to an LMU fielding error on the first sacrifice fly.
 
Alexander, Jr. scored his second run of the game in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out single to left field and two Tusculum throwing errors, getting the Railsplitters within three at 5-2.
 
Despite LMU holding the Pioneers scoreless in the fourth through sixth innings, Tusculum erupted in the seventh. Another LMU fielding error and a wild pitch preceded a Martin two-run homer over the right field wall. Following a second Railsplitter error in the inning, Pioneer catcher Chase Wullenweber tattooed a two-out, two RBI double to left field. A Williams RBI single to center field brought around Wullenweber for the final run of the series opener.
 
Tusculum first baseman Luis Ezra finished 2-for-3 at the dish with an RBI and two runs, while Hinton and Wullenweber were both 2-for-4 with two RBI.
 
Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Evan Porter (3-2) took the loss after striking out six but allowing five earned runs in six and 2/3 innings on the hill. Redshirt junior right-hander Ryan Franklin faced one batter in the seventh.
 
Righty Gunner Becker (5-0) earned a complete game win on the mound for the Pioneers, striking out eight and allowing just one earned run and four hits with four walks.
 
Up Next…
LMU and Tusculum tangle again Sunday afternoon at Lamar Hennon Field in the second doubleheader of the series. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.
 
How to Follow
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