WINGATE, N.C. – The Lincoln Memorial softball team fell 5-2 to No. 1 seed Wingate in the opener of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship series on Wednesday afternoon at the Wingate softball complex.
 
The No. 3 seed Lady Railsplitters (34-23) got on the board first with a Katie Tuggle solo homerun to left field in the Top of the 2^nd, but the Bulldogs (44-12) responded for 4 runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a lead the visiting Railsplitters couldn't surmount.
 
Sterre den Duijn added a solo homer in the 6^th for Lincoln Memorial's other tally, while Emma Frost came out of the bullpen to throw a pair of perfect innings, striking out 2.
 
Wingate's Raechel Cutcher (13-6) threw a complete game with 6 strikeouts to pick up the win while Hayley Tamaro (13-11) allowed 5 runs (4 earned) in 4.0 innings to suffer the loss.
 
The Lady Railsplitters and Bulldogs will square off again on Thursday at noon and will play another game directly after if Lincoln Memorial can tie the best-of-3 series.