COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Lincoln Memorial softball team dropped an extra-inning game against No. 25 Wilmington before falling to host Columbus State on the first day of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Softball Complex.
 
The No. 18 Railsplitters (15-7) were invited to participate in the event that includes several of the elite softball teams in Division II nationally, and they will play three more times over the next two days.
 
Game 1: Wilmington 5, Lincoln Memorial 4 (8 innings)
The Wilcats crossed the plate once in the 1^st inning and twice in the 2^nd to score the first 3 runs of the game, but Lincoln Memorial starting pitcher Hayley Tamaro shut them down over the next five innings to give her team a chance at a comeback.
 
The Railsplitters responded with single runs in the 2^nd (Maddie Haskins RBI single) and 5^th (Sterre den Duijn RBI single) before Katy Pozzuto's sac fly in the Bottom of the 7^th tied the score at 3-3 and forced an extra inning. Wilmington used some small ball to push across 2 runs in its half of the 8^th to win the game.
 
Delani Sheehan tossed 5.2 innings of 3-run ball to claim the win, while Tamaro struck out 7 in 8.0 innings while allowing 3 earned runs.
 
Game 2: Columbus State 8, Lincoln Memorial 0 (5 innings)
The Cougars scored a quartet of runs in both the 1^st and 3^rd innings, while Columbus State starter Jessica Lopez allowed only 1 Lincoln Memorial hit in 5.0 innings of shutout pitching to earn the win.
 
Sierra Hucklebee had a bunt single to open the game, but Lopez shut down the Railsplitters from there, as she only saw a baserunner one more time (also Hucklebee with a hit by pitch in the 3^rd inning).
 
Lincoln Memorial's Emma Frost fell to 8-2 after giving up 4 runs in 2.0 innings. Kassidy Miller came on in relief to pitch a clean 5^th inning for the Railsplitters.
 
Up Next
Lincoln Memorial remains in Columbus to face LeMoyne and Embry-Riddle on Saturday at the Leadoff Classic.