WINGATE, N.C. – Despite lining 17 hits and scoring 13 runs across nearly seven hours on the diamond Sunday afternoon at Ron Christopher Stadium in Wingate, North Carolina, the Lincoln Memorial University baseball team was unable to slow down Wingate University's offense in a doubleheader setback. The host Bulldogs (9-5, 7-5 SAC) also lined 17 hits on the day but scored 21 runs to earn a pair of 11-7 and 10-6 victories, clinching the South Atlantic Conference series.
 
The visiting Railsplitters (6-10, 5-7 SAC) were unable to rally from a nine-run deficit in game one and could not maintain a 6-0 lead in the four-game set finale.
 
Game 1 | Wingate 11, LMU 7
A three-run opening inning and a six-run third led to a 9-0 advantage for Wingate after three innings of play. LMU scored in each of the final four innings of the game but it wasn't enough as the Bulldogs tacked on two runs in the fourth to hold on in the seven-inning affair.
 
A two-out three RBI double to left center field by designated hitter Grayson Chapman following a trio of consecutive walks put Wingate up 3-0 in the bottom of the first. After a scoreless second, the Bulldogs got six runs on five hits in the bottom of the third beginning with a double from first baseman Andrew McKay and an RBI single up the middle by shortstop Carson Simpson. A two RBI double to left field by catcher Jed Bryant made it 6-0 before third baseman Michael Dansky took a 1-1 pitch over the right center field wall for three more runs.
 
Held without a hit for the first three innings, the Railsplitters got things going in the top of the fourth with three runs on four hits. Graduate catcher Dalton Dedas singled through the right side to lead off the inning and back-to-back singles by graduate third baseman Tyler Adams and redshirt junior first baseman Brandon Parrott allowed Dedas to reach home plate for LMU's first run of the day. Adams then scored on a Wingate double play and freshman left fielder DJ Alexander, Jr. singled up the middle for an RBI, getting the Railsplitters back within six runs.
 
Extending their lead to 11-3, the Bulldogs scored on two RBI walks in the bottom of the fourth. A leadoff single by Simpson and a Dansky single, coupled with a fielder's choice and a walk, set up right fielder Brett Adams and left fielder Cameron Carraway for RBI walks.
 
Adams stepped to the plate with two outs in the top of the fifth and crushed a 2-0 pitch over the center field wall for two runs, making it 11-5. Recording his 31st dinger of his career, Adams moves into a second-place tie with Cody Pack (2008-11) on the Railsplitters' all-time home run leaders list.
 
Following singles from freshman designated hitter Ryan Kurth and Alexander, Jr. and a Zach Fritts walk in the top of the sixth, graduate shortstop Zuriel Collins was hit by a pitch for an RBI with Kurth reaching home plate. Tallying three hits in the top of the seventh, LMU was only able to drive in one run. Adams led off the frame with a double down the left field line before redshirt sophomore centerfielder Fritts singled up the middle for an RBI and Alexander, Jr. singled to right field. A groundout ended the game.
 
Adams finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored, while Alexander, Jr. went 3-for-4 with an RBI in his first career start.
 
Dansky led Wingate with a 3-for-4, three RBI and three run performance as Simpson went 2-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored.
 
Graduate right-hander Kevin Norton (1-3) took the loss after allowing six earned runs in two innings. Freshman righty reliever Brennan Murphy and redshirt sophomore right-handed reliever Patrick Murphy both tossed an inning of hitless ball with three combined strikeouts.
 
Right-handed starter Hunter Dula (1-1) got the win on the mound, going five complete with four strikeouts. Right-hander Austin Mitchell picked up his first save of the season with a strikeout in one and 2/3 innings of relief work.
 
Game 2 | Wingate 10, LMU 6
The Railsplitters took a 5-0 lead in the top of the first and added a run in the top of the third to build a 6-0 lead but an eight-run bottom eighth inning by the hosts proved to be the difference.
 
A hit by pitch, walk, stolen base and two more walks loaded the bases for LMU with one out in the opening inning. Kurth was walked for an RBI with Dedas scoring before Fritts collected an RBI on a walk, allowing Adams to score. Alexander, Jr. then doubled down the left field line for a pair of RBI, making it a four-run game. The Railsplitters' last run in the inning came on an RBI groundout by freshman second baseman Tyler Boyd.
 
Keeping the Bulldogs in check in the first two innings, LMU's final score of the day came in the third. Leading off the frame with a Parrott single to left field, Kurth reached on a Wingate fielding error with Parrott advancing to third base. Kurth then stole second, which allowed Parrott to score an unearned run on another Bulldog error. Wingate responded in the bottom of the inning, getting a sacrifice fly to center field from Bryant following a leadoff double by Simpson.
 
Two scoreless innings ensued before the Bulldogs made it a 6-2 game in the bottom of the sixth. A pair of walks led off the inning and outfielder Andrew McKay singled for an RBI with one out.
 
Lining four hits and benefiting from two Railsplitter errors, Wingate racked up eight runs in the bottom of the eighth. Dula, who played at first base in game two, was walked to leadoff the inning and stole second base before an LMU throwing error allowed him to tag home. A Railsplitter fielding error set up Simpson for a sacrifice fly to center field and the Bulldogs took a 7-6 lead on a Bryant three RBI double down the left field line. An RBI single to right field by second baseman McCann Mellett made it 8-6 and Dula hammered the last two scores of the series with a two-run shot over the right field wall.
 
LMU got a Parrott leadoff single in the top of the ninth but three-straight strikeouts brought an end to the weekend.
 
Parrott finished 2-for-4 at the dish with two runs scored, while Alexander, Jr. was once again impressive going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
 
Seven different Wingate players registered a hit led by Bryant's 2-for-4, four RBI outing.
 
Redshirt junior right-hander Beau Nichols struck out a career-high eight as he went six complete on the rubber and gave up just two earned runs. Fellow redshirt junior right-hander Andrew Keene (0-1) took the loss after striking out one and allowing an earned run in one inning of relief.
 
Right-hander Brody McCullough (2-1) threw five innings in relief without allowing a run to claim the win, striking out six in the process.
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters wrap up their six-game road swing Wednesday at national power Catawba before returning to Lamar Hennon Field next weekend for a four-game series with Limestone Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14. First pitch of Wednesday's midweek non-conference tilt in Salisbury, North Carolina, is slated for 4 p.m.
 
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.