DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Lincoln Memorial softball team scored in the 1^st inning but fell 3-1 to Columbus State in Thursday's opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
The No. 5 seed Lady Railsplitters (36-24) plated a run to begin the game on an RBI single by Katie Tuggle that scored Madison Henry. The only other run-scoring hit was a 3-run homerun by Elyse Ambrose in the 3^rd inning to lift the No. 4 seed Cougars (45-14) to victory.
 
Lincoln Memorial's offense was led by Kelsie Tuggle, who reached bases 3 times on a single and pair of walks, Katie Tuggle and Henry who both got on base twice each with a single and walk. Anna Kate Reichter had the Railsplitters' only extra-base hit of the contest, doubling with 2 outs in the 6^th inning.
 
The Lady Railsplitters had a chance in the 7^th inning for a comeback after singles by Kelsie Tuggle and Sterre den Duijn put runners on 1^st and 2^nd base with 1 out, but they couldn't capitalize off Peach Belt Pitcher of the Year Hannah Rose Corbin.
 
Corbin threw a complete game to get the win and improve her record to 23-8, while Emma Frost (20-11) suffered the loss after striking out 3 and allowing 4 hits in 6.0 innings.
 
Lincoln Memorial plays King on Friday at 2:30 p.m., and will need to beat the Tornado to stay alive in the double-elimination bracket. The winner of that matchup will play again immediately following the game (around 5 p.m.) against either Columbus State or North Georgia.