ANDERSON, S.C. – The Lincoln Memorial University softball program (38-18, 15-9 SAC) officially punched their ticket to this year's super-regional, knocking off host and No.1-seed Anderson in Saturday's NCAA DII Southeast Regional Championship match Saturday afternoon.
 
Equaling the program-record's single-season mark of 38 wins, head Coach Ritchie Richardson's squad officially advanced to their first super-regional championship series since the 2019 campaign. The Lady Railsplitters also reached the 38-win mark in the 2021 spring.
 
Junior Emma Frost returned to the circle for her third-consecutive start at the regional, while the Lady Trojans stuck with their winning pitcher in yesterday's King contest, Harlie Duncan.
 
The Lady Railsplitter scorching offense jumped on Duncan quickly, going up one-to-zip in the opening inning via a McKenzie Henry SAC-fly that drove in Grace Cochran.
 
Duncan and Frost combined to throw three scoreless frames following the first, as LMU again put the pressure on the Trojan's No. 2 arm in the bottom-half of the fifth. Leadoff batter Madison Henry reached base, setting up left fielder Grace Cochran who hit a rope all the way to the left-center wall, scoring the speedy Henry all the way from first.
 
Anderson also put pressure on Frost in the fifth, loading the bases for their star first baseman, Kayson Boatner. Frost spectacularly pitched out of the jam, as shortstop Sierra Hucklebee fielded an awkwardly hit grounder, with first baseman Emma Webb playing her part, digging the throw out of the dirt to successfully end the inning with no run damage.
 
Third baseman Kelsie Tuggle continued the Lady Railsplitter momentum in the ensuing inning of play, growing out the Lincoln Memorial lead to three with an RBI double to left.
 
Frost then closed out the seventh with ease, achieving her sixth-successive post-season victory that has now both won a conference tournament title and a Southeast Regional championship. Finishing off her third complete-game of the weekend, the righty ace struck out five, only allowing four hits with no runs scored.
 
On the other half of the regional sub-bracket, the University of North Georgia Lady Nighthawks defeated Wingate 4-1, setting the rematch of last year's regional championship with Lincoln Memorial.
 
As UNG was named the No. 3-seed in Monday's NCAA selection announcement, the Nighthawks will host this year's 2022 NCAA DII Southeast Super Regional in Dahlonega, Ga.
 
UP NEXT…
The reigning South Atlantic Conference Tournament and NCAA DII Southeast Regional Champion Lady Railsplitters will travel to Dahlonega, Ga. to take on North Georgia for the 2022 NCAA Southeast Super-Regional.

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.