HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial University baseball team was finally able to get at least two games of the series in with nationally-ranked Wingate, splitting the doubleheader with the Bulldogs on a sunny Monday afternoon.
Game 1 – No. 2 Wingate 5, Lincoln Memorial 1
The Railsplitters relied on the arm of
Patrick Queener to start on the mound, as the junior allowed just one hit in the first three innings forcing the Bulldogs offense to leave a runner on base in the third.
Wingate got their offense going in the fourth as the lead-off batter was walked before the Bulldogs were able to lay a single down to left center, giving WU a runner in scoring position. A double by Farris was able to score to, giving Wingate a 2-0 lead before extending it by one later on in the inning.
Lincoln Memorial was able to notch their first hit of the afternoon in the fourth on a
Sam Mast single to centerfield, but the spark of offense was not enough as the Bulldogs were able to shut down the bats of LMU till the sixth.
Cameron Bowen was walk in the second appearance by LMU of the sixth before
Carson Boles tagged one to left field, prompting a pitching change by Wingate. Bowen stole third, and on the attempt to catch him the catcher overthrew the ball allowing Boles to advance to third and Bowen to tag home to give LMU their first run of the afternoon.
The Bulldogs went onto extend their lead to 5-1 in the home stretch and going into the bottom of the ninth the Railsplitters got just one run as Wingate was able to secure the win in game one, 5-2.
Game 2 – Lincoln Memorial 1, No. 2 Wingate 0
The Railsplitters' coaching staff gave the game two starting nod to
Alex Brewer and the Knoxville, Tennessee native had himself a day as the sophomore went for 5.2 innings of work and struck out a new career-high 11 batters.
The Bulldogs got their offense going in the first, with Brewer picking up two walks before settling down and striking out the side. The Railsplitters got a runner to third in the bottom of the frame, but likewise, Wingate was able to force the ground out to end the inning.
Brewer and the Railsplitter defense forced Wingate into a three up, three down situation before coming out to bat in the second. Bowen led the bottom of the second off with a double center before
Brandon Parrott got hit by the Bulldog pitcher, giving LMU two runners on. A passed ball by the Wingate catcher allowed Bowen at third to race home to tag in the first run of game two. LMU went onto get out of the inning with a 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs.
The Railsplitters locked down on defense on relied on the arm of Brewer and relief pitcher
David Brian Ellison to secure the win for the Splitters, 1-0 over the defending national champions.
Brewer picked up his second win of the season, while Brian Ellison notched his first save of the year with a 1.1 inning outing with one strikeout.
Up Next
The Railsplitters will have a day off before hosting West Virginia State in midweek action on Wednesday, March 16 for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch at Lamar Hennon Field.
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 through the 2022 season.
