HARROGATE, Tenn. – The No. 18-ranked Lincoln Memorial University softball program (29-7, 12-2 SAC) hosted their first nationally-ranked opponent of the season Wednesday afternoon inside the Dorothy Neely Complex, as the Lady Railsplitters swept their in-state foes, No. 21 Carson-Newman.
 
Ritchie Richardson's hot LMU now sit atop the South Atlantic Conference standings, as the Blue & Grey boast two more wins than Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne.
 
The Lady Railsplitters have now completed a streak of nine-consecutive wins over the Eagles, with the first win of the run dating back to March 27, 2018.
 
Game 1 – No. 18 Lincoln Memorial defeat Carson-Newman 2-0.
 
Emma Frost's ruthless junior year pace continued inside Dorothy Neely Wednesday afternoon, as the Morristown righty improved to 16-3 on the year, staying on top of the SAC wins leader list.
 
Frost was nearly untouchable during game No. 1 of the day against the Eagles, completing the seven-inning, two-hit complete game shutout. The Lady Railsplitter ace struck out nine of the 21 Carson-Newman batters, while allowing zero walks.
 
Emma Webb's rise up the Lincoln Memorial program-RBI list hit a new mark Wednesday, as the first baseman moved to second-place all-time with her 149th run-batted-in coming in the fifth inning, which proved to be the go-ahead game-winning RBI. After Kelsie Tuggle entered scoring position, Webb's dagger single up the middle broke the pitcher's duel deadlock.
 
The Blue & Grey would tack on an insurance run in the sixth, as late-game substitute Bella Buccellato and left fielder Maddie Haskins reached base. A Madison Henry ground ball that resulted in a throwing error by the Eagles second baseman scored Buccellato, doubling the LMU advantage, as Frost closed out the first game of the day in under two hours.
 
Game 2 – No. 18 Lincoln Memorial defeat Carson-Newman 9-6.
 
Following the battle in the circle in game No. 1, the latter half of the doubleheader provided offensive sparks from both teams immediately out of the gates. Four lead changes were seen through the opening two innings, as the Eagles and the Lady Railsplitters combined for a total of 12 runs in four half-innings.
 
Although the Eagles were on Hayley Tamaro from the get-go, the senior New Jersey native kept her calm in the third and fourth innings, throwing consecutive shut-out frames, for a total of four strikeouts on the afternoon.
 
Third baseman Kelsie Tuggle faced a key at-bat in the contest in just the game's second inning, as she hit a rope over the left field wall. Tuggle's fourth bomb of the season was good for a three-run blast, as LMU did not surrender the lead for the remaining five innings.
 
Graduate Delilah Malczewski pitched a solid two relief innings for Lincoln Memorial, only walking one of the nine batters she faced. The Tusculum transfer came on for the close, but two seventh-inning Eagle base hits forced Malczewski out of the contest.
 
Emma Frost came in for the close as Ritchie Richardson and his staff looked to secure the sweep over their in-state rivals. Tension filled Dorothy Neely as the first batter Frost reached base, but the 16-game winner gathered her cool. Frost struck out the ensuing two Eagle batters, with the final out of the series came off a liner to left caught by Haskins to seal the sweep.
 
UP NEXT…
The No. 18 Lady Railsplitters remain at home this weekend, taking on the Lady Cobras of Coker in a doubleheader this Saturday, April 2. 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.