Harrogate, TN- LMU Softball would snag two more wins at the LMU Invitational on Friday, taking the first over Davis & Elkins 4-1 and the second in exciting fashion, 8-7, in nine over Wayne State.

Game one would be the battle of the top hats as Lincoln Memorial would face off against Davis & Elkins College. The Senators would put runners on thanks to a pair of hits and threaten to strike first, but back-to-back strikeouts from LMU's Halle Grace Patton would get them out of the bind. Lincoln Memorial would draw three straight walks out of Kristin Griffin, Jordann Reagan, and Hannah McMeen to load the bases in the bottom half of the frame, coming up empty to keep the game scoreless after the first. D&E would string together a couple of hits in the next half-inning and cross a run, but the lead would be short-lived. LMU's first hit of the day would be at the bottom of the second from Nicole Couvertiere, who knocked a single up the middle to give LMU a runner. Freshman Ryan Williams would hit one to the wall in the next at-bat, evening up the score at one all. Reese Vivrette would step up shortly after, earning an RBI base hit to score Williams and give LMU the lead. 

Patton would keep the lead alive, earning a K to get out of yet another bases-loaded situation in the top of the third. Hannah McMeen and Skylar Jacob would both get aboard to begin the bottom half, giving LMU two in scoring position. Williams would add a few more RBI to her resume, sending a base hit up the middle to add to the lead. Both teams would rely on their defense, keeping the score at 4-1 going into the top of the seventh. Patton would close the game out with her fifth K to improve to 6-1 in the circle and throw yet another complete game. 

Game two would see LMU take on Wayne State. The Warriors would strike, putting up a two spot in the top of the first. Reese Vivrette would get the lead-off double for the Railsplitters, scoring an at-bat later thanks to a base hit from Anna Kate Reichter. Griffin would return to the plate and find a gap in left-center for a double, advancing herself and Reichter into scoring position. Reichter would come home and Griffin go to third on a passed ball, evening the tally. McMeen's contact shortly after would be enough to add another, giving LMU the lead 3-2. A scoreless inning and a half would bring Vivrette back up in the bottom of the third, where she would triple in the at-bat. The next play would be a sacrifice fly to left by Reichter, extending the lead. 

Wayne State would use some LMU miscues, paired with a few hits to retake the lead 5-4 in the fourth. Lincoln Memorial would reclaim it in the bottom half of the inning after McMeen and Alyssa Williams would reach via walk and error, respectively, scoring on a Hanna Bogoski single. The Warriors would return to the plate and find a go-ahead run, making the score 6-5. That tally would remain until the bottom of the sixth when Alyssa Williams would come back to the plate and earn a base hit up the middle. After advancing to second, Palmer would send one down the line to score her, evening up the scoreboard at 6-6. Halle Grace Patton would return to the circle and add two more strikeouts to her day, keeping the Warriors to a zero spot in the top of the seventh.

The ghost runner would score in the top of the eight for the Warriors on an error by the LMU infield. Lincoln Memorial would find their own ghost runner advanced to third in the bottom half of the eighth, scoring from a two-out hit from Palmer to extend the game to nine. Wayne State would get a base, but an impressive relay throw from Reichter in center would get the runner at home, keeping the score at 7-7 going into the bottom half of the frame. With a wild pitch giving LMU a runner on third, Reagan would square up for a squeeze bunt. It would be popped up and caught by the pitcher; however, the throw to get the double play would be errant, giving Reichter the score and giving LMU the victory. With it, Patton receives her second win of the day, striking out five in her three innings of work.

Lincoln Memorial moves to 8-3 on the season and will return to play for a midweek doubleheader against King on Tuesday, February 18th, with start times scheduled for 1 PM and 3 PM.