Harrogate, TN - Following a schedule change due to inclement weather, the Lincoln Memorial baseball team hosted the Limestone Saints on Sunday for the third and final game of the conference opening series. The Railsplitters and Saints split the double-header 1-1 on Friday with Limestone taking the first game and Lincoln Memorial evening the series at 1-1 with a game two victory. With the series on the line, Lincoln Memorial claimed a 6-4 victory on Sunday to take a 2-1 series victory in its conference opener.
Lincoln Memorial wasted no time getting a jump on Limestone on Sunday.
Colin Murphy made quick work of the Saints in the top of the first, retiring the first three batters in succession, seeing the Railsplitters take over on offense.
Kasten Harvey was walked after being hit by pitch.
Alex Kowalski was walked on the ensuing at-bat to leave to runners on base for Lincoln Memorial.
Joey LaMattina delivered a single to load the bases. Following a
CJ Dugan walk, Harvey scored the first run to give the Railsplitters a quick 1-0 lead.
Ford Hallock connected on a 2RBI single on the following at-bat to extend the lead to 3-0.
Archer Wong-Shasteen then delivered an RBI single to drive in Dugan and give Lincoln Memorial a 4-0 advantage. The score remained 4-0 heading into the fifth inning as neither team was able to add to the run total, leaving the Railsplitters firmly in control heading into the back half of the game.
Lincoln Memorial further extended its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning after holding Limestone off the board once again. Wong-Shasteen delivered a 2RBI single to center field in the bottom of the inning, driving in Hallock and LaMattina to extend the Railsplitters' lead to 6-0. The Saints tallied their first hit of the game in the top of the sixth inning, subsequently adding their first two runs of the game, cutting into the Lincoln Memorial lead 6-2. That would end Murphy's day on the mound, finishing with 5.2 IP, allowing one hit, two runs, and no earned runs with four walks and seven strikeouts.
Payton Armour toed the rubber in relief, limiting the damage in the inning to two runs, seeing the Railsplitters maintain a 6-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Both defenses stood tall throughout the seventh inning with neither allowing a run, leaving Lincoln Memorial in control, 6-2 heading into the eighth. Limestone added another run to cut the deficit to three runs in the top of the eighth, 6-3. The damage was limited to just one run, leaving Lincoln Memorial in control 6-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth. The Railsplitters failed to add to the run total in the eighth, but maintained a 6-3 advantage heading into the top of the ninth, looking to close out the game on defense.
Limestone added one run in the top of the ninth, cutting the score to 6-4, but Lincoln Memorial's defense stood tall, securing the victory.
Ford Hallock and
Archer Wong-Shasteen led the offense with three hits each. Wong-Shasteen led with three RBI and Hallock followed with two RBI.
Joey LaMattina and
Brooks Hagedorn added one hit each.
CJ Dugan added one RBI.
Colin Murphy got the start from the bump, going for 5.2 IP, allowing one hit, two runs, and no earned runs with four walks and seven strikeouts and was credited with the victory.
