Cleveland, TN- Lincoln Memorial split their contests with Lee University today in softball, losing the first 3-6 and taking the second in comeback fashion, 9-8.
The first contest would see a slow start on both sides. It would be the fourth inning before either team would see a run cross. A double by
Hanna Bogoski would get things started, later scoring from a
Hannah McMeen double. Lee would find two more in the bottom half of the frame, three more crossing in the bottom of the fifth.
Jordann Reagan would earn a pinch-hit single in the top of the sixth to score Bogoski and put a second run up for the Railsplitters. A sacrifice fly from
Ryan Williams would cross one more to make the score 3-5, but an insurance run by the Flames in the bottom of the sixth would put it just out of reach and hand LMU the loss.
Lincoln Memorial would strike first in game two also.
Ryan Williams would lead things off in the top of the second with a single to third, moving to second on a bunt from
Alyssa Williams.
Gracie Palmer would get her day started with an infield single, stealing second shortly after.
Reese Vivrette would do the same shortly after, scoring Williams.
Anna Kate Reichter would earn the Splitters fourth hit of the inning, adding two more in Vivrette and Palmer. Lee would battle back in the bottom of the fourth, taking the lead by putting up a four spot in the half frame. Back-to-back singles from
Cassidy Hack and Palmer would lead off the fourth, the former scoring from contact by Reichter. A
Kristin Griffin single would round Palmer and give the Splitters the go-ahead, 5-4. Lee would find two more to retake the lead, tacking on three more in the bottom of the fifth to force the Railsplitters down three and down to their last three outs.
Ryan Williams would lead things off with a single, advancing to second on a Reagan base hit in the next at-bat. Palmer would return to the plate with two on, and one, singling to third and loading the bases. LMU would go down to their last out, but a Reichter hit-by-pitch would make the score 6-8. Griffin's single would score Palmer, closing the gap to one.
Hanna Bogoski would be next up, rocketing a single down the middle to score both Reichter and Vivrette, the tying and go-ahead runs, respectively. All three LMU pitchers would have a turn in the circle,
Jasmine Kaylor getting the start,
Katie Fultz getting the win after coming on in relief, and
Halle Grace Patton returning in the bottom of the seventh and earning the save.
The split moves LMU to 12-5 on the season. They'll return to action on the weekend for the Abe's Invitational, where they will play two games each day of the weekend. They'll play at 12 PM and 2 PM on Saturday; 2 PM and 4 PM Sunday.
