HICKORY, N.C. – The Lincoln Memorial University baseball program fell in doubleheader action to No. 20 Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday afternoon.
Game 1 – Lenoir-Rhyne 13, Lincoln Memorial 4
The Railsplitters got back to work early as
Cameron Bowen was able to draw the hit by pitch before the Bears allowed
Carson Boles to reach first on a fielding error in right field. Both LMU runners on got into scoring position following a wild pitch, but Lenoir-Rhyne was able to settle down and get out of the jam. The Bears were able to get their bats going as well, leading off with a double before the runner was able to get around the bases and give L-R a 1-0 lead after scoring on a wild pitch.
Lenoir-Rhyne was able to get out of the top of the second quickly, allowing their offense to go back to work as they jolted to a 6-0 lead after a five-run second. A pitching change by the LMU staff was able to get the 'Splitters out of the jam and on to the third.
The Railsplitters threatened again in the third, but the Bears were able to fan the last to Splitters to take it to the bottom of the frame.
Ethan Bobo was able to shut down the L-R attack in the third, making the Bears go three up, three down.
Lenoir-Rhyne was able to get the Railsplitters away quietly, but LMU was able to get one on base after a throwing error by the Bears' third baseman. L-R went onto further extend their lead in the fourth on a grand slam, putting the host up 10-0.
The Railsplitters went down in order to begin the fifth before the Bears were able to get runners on early before an RBI single gave them a 11-0 lead heading to the sixth where
Ryan Kurth got the sixth inning started with a solo home run to left field, giving the Splitters their first mark of the game.
The Bears were able to then settle down in order to close out the top of the frame. Lenoir-Rhyne then extended their lead by two in the sixth to take a 13-1 lead into the final stretch.
Getting runners on early and in scoring position, Lincoln Memorial was able to get more runs on the board as
Collin Goda lead off the seventh with a single down the left field line before
Christian Amoruso was able to lay down the single, getting Goda in scoring position.
Cameron Bowen then took his second pitch over the left field wall for a three-run blast to make it 13-4 L-R.
The Bears were able to control the remainder of the contest and added another run late as they captured game one of the afternoon, 14-4.
Game 2 – Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Lincoln Memorial 1
The Bears got out to a quick start to begin the second game of the afternoon as they took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning.
The Railsplitters were able to lay down a hit in the second on the bat of
Sam Mast to left field, but the Lenoir-Rhyne defense was able to catch Mast stealing just moments later. Lenoir-Rhyne then went onto push their lead to 2-0 on a RBI single from Ramirez.
The Bears' pitching was able to keep the bats of LMU at bay as the Railsplitters went down in order before the host were able to further their lead to 3-0 on a sacrifice fly.
Lincoln Memorial got the bats going in the fifth as
Kasten Harvey was able to lay down the hard batted single to second before
Andrew Keene doubled to left center, allowing Harvey to score and cut the L-R lead to 3-1.
The play on the mound was the difference maker in game three as the contest went scoreless over the homestretch, giving Lenoir-Rhhyne the 3-1 victory over the Splitters.
Up Next
The Railsplitters will head to Kodak, Tennessee, and Smokies Stadium for the 2022 South Atlantic Conference Baseball tournament.
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.
