Dahlonega, GA - Following a 33-17 season in 2024 that led to a SAC Tournament Championship berth, the Lincoln Memorial baseball team got its season started on Friday on the road at North Georgia. The Nighthawks limited the Railsplitters' offense to one run and one hit. North Georgia led at-bats 42-30 and OPS .805-.243 en route to a 9-1 victory.

Both offenses sputtered out of the gate. Lincoln Memorial failed to tally a hit in the first inning, leaving Chris Hall on base after being walked. After taking over on defense, the Railsplitters tallied one error in the bottom of the inning while allowing one hit, but held the Nighthawks scoreless, seeing the score remain tied at 0-0 heading into the second. The second inning was similar to the first with Lincoln Memorial unable to find its way into scoring position. North Georgia left one runner stranded in the inning to leave the score knotted at 0-0 heading into the top of the third. Hall was once again walked in the third inning, but the Railsplitters were unable to advance the runner, seeing Lincoln Memorial take over on defense. The North Georgia offense scored its first run in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle, seeing the Nighthawks take a 1-0 lead.

The fourth inning mirrored the first and second innings with neither team able to secure a run. The Nighthawks managed a hit during the inning, but left one stranded, leaving North Georgia narrowly in control, 1-0, heading into the fifth inning. The Nighthawks' offense began to heat up in the fifth inning after holding the Railsplitters without a hit or base runner in the inning, scoring two runs on four hits to take a 3-0 lead rolling into the sixth inning. Austin Epperson took base on balls in the top of the sixth but was unable to advance. North Georgia began to pour it on in the bottom of the inning, adding four runs on fourth hits to take a 7-0 lead heading into the seventh. Lincoln Memorial was once again unable to find rhythm offensively, leaving North Georgia in control at the seventh inning stretch. In the bottom of the inning, the Nighthawks were able to add another run following an error by the Railsplitters to extend the lead to 8-0. North Georgia added another run on a fielder's choice to take a 9-0 lead heading into the final frame. Lincoln Memorial added its first and only run in the top of the ninth when Sam Mast drove in Alex Kowalski with a single to right field. The Nighthawks closed the game to secure a 9-1 victory.

Eli Edds toed the rubber for the Railsplitters to start the game, pitching 4.0 innings, allowing five hits, one run, and one earned run with one walk and five strikeouts, forcing four fly-outs and two ground outs. Payton Armour took the mound in relief, pitching one inning, allowing four hits, two runs, and two earned runs with no walks and two strikeouts, forcing one ground-out. Dylan Maire pitched 3.0 innings, allowing six hits, six runs, and two earned runs with two walks and two strikeouts. Sam Mast led the Railsplitters on the sticks with one hit and one RBI. Alex Kowalski added hit and one run.

WP: Williams (1-0)
LP: Edds (0-1)

LMU: Edds, Armour, and Maire
NG: Williams and Green

LMU: 000 000 001
NG: 001 024 20x