HARROGATE, Tenn. – The No. 19-ranked Lincoln Memorial University softball program (21-7, 4-2 SAC) completed a dominant sweep Saturday afternoon over the Wolves of Newberry inside Dorothy Neely.
 
Both aces of LMU and Newberry faced off in game No. 1 of the afternoon, as Emma Frost prevailed to earn her 12th victory on the season, while moving into a tie for sixth all-time on the program-strikeout list. Kelsie Tuggle walked-off the Wolves in the bottom-of-the-seventh, with a towering blast far over the centerfield wall.
 
Following the momentum of the Tuggle walk-off shot, the Lady Railsplitters didn't take their foot off the petal, throttling the Wolves in a game No. 2 run-rule victory in five, where Hayley Tamaro improved to 4-0 with a complete-game victory.
 
Game 1 – No. 19 Lincoln Memorial defeat Newberry 4-2.
 
A big afternoon for the Tuggle sisters began early on in the first matchup of the series, as Kelsie Tuggle and McKenzie Henry reached base in the bottom-of-the-first for the DP Katie Tuggle, who brought home her sister with a single down the left field line.
 
With a 24-8 record entering the day, a talented Newberry offense stood toe-to-toe with LMU's ace in the circle, twice homering off Frost, and the second time in the top-of-the-sixth to tie the game up at two runs apiece.
 
Although the Wolves began with bottom-half of the seventh with two-consecutive outs, a costly Shelby Blake walk brought the dangerous Kelsie Tuggle to the plate. The shortstop worked the count full, fouling off many pitches in a tense at-bat and finally brought the hammer down on Newberry, smacking a game-winning two-run homer to center for the win.
 
Emma Frost moved to 12-3 on the year, setting down six Newberry batters to seal herself in sixth-place in LMU history for career-strikeouts.
 
Game 2 – No. 19 Lincoln Memorial defeat Newberry 8-0.
 
The second matchup of the series was over before it started in Dorothy Neely, with the momentum of the Kelsie Tuggle walk-off proved to be too much for the Wolves, as Newberry had an early trip back to South Carolina Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lady Railsplitter offense immediately posted a four-run first inning, seeing Katie Tuggle, Kelsey Hoskins and Maddie Haskins all driving in runs for the Blue & Grey. McKenzie Henry and the Tuggle sisters smacked in additional insurance runs in the following innings, as game No. 2 ended in a five-inning eight-run-rule victory.
 
Hayley Tamaro improved to a perfect 4-0 on the season with the five-inning complete-game victory. The senior struck out six, while only walking a single Newberry batter.
 
UP NEXT…
The No. 19 Lady Railsplitters hit the road for Mars Hill, taking on the Lions in a doubleheader this Tuesday, March 22. First pitch is scheduled for 1 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.