HARROGATE, Tenn. – The No. 13-ranked Lincoln Memorial University softball program (3-1, 0-0 SAC) split a non-conference series with the Flames of Lee University (3-2) Wednesday afternoon inside the Dorothy Neely Complex, off the back of yet another complete game in just start number two from junior ace Emma Frost.
 
Senior Sierra Hucklebee notched consecutive-performances with a home run, drilling a three-run shot in Wednesday's opening contest to help see the Lady Railsplitters over the line for a four-run victory.
 
Wednesday's latter half of the doubleheader featured the Flames' ace on the mound, as sophomore Nyah Vogel also recorded her second-successive complete game, only allowing one run in the Flames 4-1 triumph to split the series. LMU pitcher Bailey Griffith found positives to build on in her first start of the season during game No. 2, as the senior racked-up five shut-out innings over Lee.
 
Nearly formidable in Harrogate, today's loss in game in game No. 2 was just the third time since the start of the 2020 campaign that the Blue & Grey have lost inside Dorothy Neely (Feb. 8, 2020, vs. West Virginia State, April 17, 2021, vs. Wingate).
 
The No. 13-ranked program in DII's opening victory on Wednesday stretched out a streak of five wins in-a-row against Lee University since the start of the 2019 campaign, and the Lady Railsplitters maintain a 5-3 series lead over the Flames throughout the past five years.  
 
Game 1 – No. 13 Lincoln Memorial def. Lee 5-1.
 
After featuring in both games of Sunday's doubleheader, including an 11-strikeout no-hitter, junior Emma Frost started Wednesday's series with the Flames in typical fashion, striking out two of the first three batters she faced, as Javaria Smith earned a rare walk off the dominant righty. Annalyn Ormsby chopped a grounder to short, where all-conference standout Sierra Hucklebee produced a collector's item on her throw to first, a very rare error from one of the nation's premier infielders as the wild throw took a bad hop into the outfield and scored Javaria Smith all the way from first.
 
The Blue and Grey wasted no time to recover the early deficit, thanks to Grace Cochran and Sierra Hucklebee reaching base quickly. A key moment in the opening contest of the day came off a wild pitch from Lee pitcher Madison Barnett that advanced Cochran and Hucklebee into scoring position. Catcher McKenzie Henry capitalized for LMU on the pitching mistake, striping a line drive into center as both runners reached home safely to take the lead.
 
The only other run-scoring action from game No. 1 occurred in the home half of the third, which began thanks to hard Lady Railsplitter base running and another Flame defensive mistake. This time off an error, corner outfielder Madison Henry opened the bottom of the third by reaching safely off a fielding error from starter Madison Barnett. Next, second baseman Grace Cochran smartly laid down a tricky bunt to handle, as the infielder beat out the throw in time to first to put more pressure on the Lee defense. LMU's potent third-spot bat in Hucklebee went deep yet again on the following at-bat, blowing the game wide open with a three-run shot to left.
 
No farther runs were scored in the remaining four innings of the contest, as East Tennessee State transfer pitcher Alaina Watson came into the ballgame for Lee in the fourth, striking out the side and pitching two shutout innings overall for the Flames.
 
Emma Frost recorded her second-consecutive complete game, posting a total of six-shutout innings, nine strikeouts, three hits, one run unearned and only one walk. Frost made quick work of the opposition yet again, only facing 23 total batters earning her second victory of the young season.
 
Game 2 – No. 13 Lincoln Memorial fall to Lee 4-1.
 
Wednesday's game No. 2 of the doubleheader with Lee saw head coach Ritchie Richardson's efficient offensive score yet again in the game's opening inning, marking that as the fourth-consecutive matchup in which the Lady Railsplitters have tallied at least a run in the bottom of the first.
 
South Atlantic Conference Preseason First Team All-Conference pick, junior Madison Henry's leadoff power was on showcase in the home half of the first, as the Louisville, Tenn. product pulled a deep drive into right field that was unable to be caught, as Henry matched her power with her pace and capped off an inside-the-park homerun to push the Lady Railsplitters ahead.
 
Coming off a complete game herself, Lee ace, sophomore Nyah Vogel entered the circle Wednesday afternoon in Dorothy Neely and dominated from the get-go. Apart from Madison Henry's first inning magic, Vogel pitched six-shutout frames for the Flames, using her defense effectively as she was only able to strikeout two in the Blue & Grey.  
 
Griffith got into trouble in the top half of the third, as the bats for the Flames came alive, recording two separate run-scoring singles, capping off a three-run inning. The veteran pitcher kept her cool, keeping Lee quiet for a total of five-shutout innings on the day. Griffith was knocked out of the contest, when Taylor De Adder delivered the nail-in-the-coffin for Lee, extending the lead out to three with a solo shot.
 
The No. 13-ranked team in the land was never expected to go down easy, as LMU rallied with the first two retired in the bottom of the seventh, seeing runners advance to first and second in ensuing at-bats. The Blue & Grey were down to their last strike on two separate occasions, as outfielder Sami West poked a single into left to keep the game alive. Center fielder Bella Buccellato fought with a count of two strikes in the next at-bat, ultimately tapping a grounder to third that was bobbled and resulted in an error. Madison Henry came to the plate representing the game-tying run, hoping to continue her magic from the opening at-bat of game No. 2. Henry battled in an eight-pitch at-bat, that saw her foul off a total of six pitches. LMU was unable to evade a third-asking down on their final strike, as Henry popped up to short to split the series.
 
UP NEXT…
The No. 13 Lady Railsplitters hit the road this weekend for Alabama, as they will compete in the annual Charger Chillout, hosted by the University of Alabama-Huntsville. The Blue & Grey will take on Tuskegee University to begin the invitational, with first pitch on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. EST.
 
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.