KODAK, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial University baseball program saw their season come to a close in the 2022 SAC Baseball Tournament as the Railsplitters dropped their opening round game in a tightly contested affair with Carson-Newman, 2-1, on Thursday night.
 
The Eagles got a runner on early, but the Railsplitters were able to turn the double play in the first before All-SAC selection picked up his first punch out of the evening, getting Daughtry to swing wide on the last pitch.
 
Carson-Newman's Matt Bradley and the Eagle defense was able to get Lincoln Memorial to go down in order as the second game of the 2022 SAC Baseball Tournament went to the second inning quickly.
 
The score held at 0-all over the middle of the frames as Queener and Bradley dueled on the mound, forcing their respective opposing lineups with three up, three down situations.
 
The Eagles tallied the first run of the evening as Harrison Travis lead the fifth off with a double down the left field line before later scoring on a wild pitch, making it 1-0 C-N. Carson-Newman tallied one more hit in the inning, but Collin Goda was able to track down the fly out to send the LMU batters to the plate.
 
Sam Mast went onto lay down a single through the left side, but the Eagles' defense stood tall as they were able to get the fielder's choice out at second to end the fifth.
 
A quick sixth inning led to the home stretch as Carson-Newman was able to get runners on early in the seventh before adding an insurance run on a RBI single by Parkinson to take a 2-0 lead into the eighth.
 
Kevin Norton came in for the Railsplitters, forcing the fly out to get things started, but the Eagles were able to get their offense going as they got two runners on by walk and another on a hit by pitch. Lincoln Memorial was able to settle down defensively to get the punch out to send the LMU bats to the plate.
 
The Railsplitters were able to get on early as Tucker Hagan drilled the ball back at the pitcher and booked it to first for the single to start the bottom of the eighth. C-N was able to get the ground out in the next appearance, but Hagan was able to get into scoring position.
 
Chris Hall then laid down the single up the middle in order to get the Railsplitters on board with the RBI as Hagan was able to book it home from second to cut the Eagle lead to 2-1. Carson-Newman made a pitching change, bringing in Wright to close out the eighth and dis so punching out one before forcing the fly out to right field.
 
Making a pitching change in the tightly contested game, the Railsplitters turned to the arm of Beau Nichols. Nichols forced the Eagles down in order after fly out to right center before punching out the side to give LMU a shot at the walk-off.
 
Ryan Kurth was able to get on via a walk before Mast came up to the plate as the winning run. Mast went onto drive the double to left field, but Carson-Newman was able to throw out the tying run at home to preserve their 2-1 lead and the victory as the Eagles were able to track down the fly out in center to take the 2-1 win.
 
 The Railsplitters finish the 2022 campaign at 27-18 overall in head coach Justin Haywood's second season at the helm.