HARROGATE, Tenn. – The No. 11-ranked Lincoln Memorial University softball program (11-3, 0-0 SAC) split a series with King University inside Dorothy Neely Wednesday afternoon, as head coach Ritchie Richardson moved level into third-place all-time in program history with 127 wins, tying the mark Natalie Laydon reached between 2013-2017. 
 
Lincoln Memorial welcomed back a familiar face, as King assistant coach Kyleigh Payne made her Harrogate return on a cold and windy Wednesday afternoon, who previously served as a graduate assistant under Richardson the past two seasons.
 
Despite the cold conditions, both teams erupted on the offensive end, tallying a combined 29 runs in the 13 and-a-half innings played.
 
Game 1 – No. 11 Lincoln Memorial def. King 8-3.
 
Fresh off a perfect game just three days ago against Maryville in the LMU Invitational, junior ace Emma Frost again took the circle for the Blue & Grey against King, improving to 6-1 overall, completing her sixth-straight victory as a complete game.
 
Although King managed to get to Frost more than most other teams do, perhaps taking advantage of the out blowing winds, the dominant righty still managed to hurl seven innings, again reaching the 10-strikeout mark, while only walking one. Credit to King, as three Tornado runs scored, only two earned on Frost's part.
 
Catcher Mackenzie Henry started off the offensive action early on in the first, smacking a single to center that safely pushed across two Lady Railsplitters. Fresh off being named South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week, senior Sierra Hucklebee wasted no time in recording her first RBI in the afternoon, doubling to left field in the second inning to score center fielder Bella Buccellato.
 
A three-run sixth-inning from LMU secured the eleventh win of the young campaign, as only one hit, an error and a wild pitch blew the score line wide open.
 
Game 2 – No. 11 Lincoln Memorial fall to King 13-5.
 
Game No. 2 belonged to King University's Carly Turner, as the senior started in the circle for the second game of the double-header, and was just a mere two outs away from the four-inning minimum to earn a victory. Turner moved to first base later on in the encounter, and smacked back-to-back three-run homers in her final two plate appearances, as she was responsible for almost half of the 13 Tornado runs.
 
Graduate transfer Delilah Malczewski came into Wednesday action with a perfect 4-0 record to begin her career in the Blue & Grey, but finally ran into too much trouble to overcome as the Tornado six-spot in inning four proved to be the turning point. Malczewski still managed five strikeouts in her start and only walked one batter.
 
Senior Sierra Hucklebee again was responsible for much of the Lady Railsplitter run-output, collecting three more RBI in game two against King, including her sixth home run of the season in just 14 total starts.
 
UP NEXT…
The No. 11 Lady Railsplitters hit the road for South Carolina this weekend for their final non-conference tournament at the Bearcat / Fleet Invitational. LMU's first matchup of the weekend will occur on Friday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. EST versus Emmanuel College (Ga.).
 
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 Lady Railsplitter softball through the 2022 season.