Greeneville, TN – After falling in the series opener on Friday evening at Tusculum, the Lincoln Memorial baseball team was back in action in Greeneville for a Saturday double-header with the Pioneers to determine an important conference standing series.

Game two of the series started quietly, with both teams unable to score a run in the first inning. However, the second inning belonged to the home standing Pioneers. Tusculum added three runs on four hits and an error to take a 3-0 lead. It would be the last bit of success for the Pioneers during the game. Although the Lincoln Memorial was unable to find its offensive rhythm, Colin Murphy began to settle in during the third inning, holding Tusculum scoreless. He replicated his performance in the fourth inning, leaving the score 3-0 in favor of the Pioneers heading into the fifth inning.

The Railsplitters' bats came alive in the top of the fifth inning, scoring five runs on four hits. Kevin Fernandez doubled to left field before Archer Wong-Shasteen walked to leave two runners on base. Chris Hall then laid down a beautiful bunt to advance the runners and load the bases after beating out the throw to first. The Railsplitters scored their first run of the game when Alex Kowalski walked with loaded bases, cutting the score to 3-1. Two batters later, Trace Simmons singled down the right field line to drive in Wong-Shasteen and Hall, tying the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth. Austin Epperson then singled to center field to bring Kowalski and Simmons home, giving Lincoln Memorial its first lead of the game, 5-3. Although the Railsplitters were unable to add to their run total in the sixth inning, Murphy continued to deal from the mound, retiring all three Tusculum batters in succession in the sixth.

Lincoln Memorial added another pair of runs in the top of the seventh to cushion its lead. Kasten Harvey singled before taking base on a throwing error, later to score on another throwing error in Kowalski's ensuing at-bat, extending the lead to 6-3. Simmons then singled to right field for the second time in the game, driving in Kowalski to bring the game to its final score, 7-3. Murphy and the Railsplitters' defense closed the game from the field, holding the Pioneers scoreless for the remainder of the game. Muphy pitched a phenomenal outing, pitching a complete game, allowing seven hits, three runs and three earned runs, with no walks and three strikeouts. He forced 13 groundouts and nine flyouts. The Lincoln Memorial defense added two double plays.

Game three would decide the series. Similarly to the first game of the double-header, Lincoln Memorial found itself down 3-0 early. However, a two-run blast from Fernandez in the top of the second inning saw the score move to 3-2 in Tusculum's favor. Neither team added to the run total in the third or fourth innings, leaving the game narrowly in favor of the Pioneers, 3-2. After retiring the Railsplitters offense in the top of the fifth inning, Tusculum added three runs on two hits to extend its lead to 6-2 heading into the sixth inning. Down to its last six batters, Lincoln Memorial needed to hold Tusculum scoreless while adding at least four runs to stretch the game beyond the scheduled seven innings or take the series deciding victory in the third and final game.

The Railsplitters got off to a good start in the sixth as Kowalski doubled down the left field line. Two batters later, Brooks Hagedorn ripped a two-run homer to left field, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Hagedorn's hit sparked the Lincoln Memorial offense as Epperson and Fernandez added back-to-back singles putting the go-ahead run in the batter's box in the top of the sixth. Wong-Shasteen was walked to load the bases before Hall grounded out to first base, stranding all three runners on base to end the top of the sixth. Lincoln Memorial made quick work of Tusculum in the bottom of the sixth to take over on offense. Down to its last three outs, the Railsplitters needed at least two runs to tie the game and three to take the lead. Lincoln Memorial saw its first two batters retired before back-to-back runners making base. Sam Mast reached on an error and Simmons singled down the right field line to put the go-ahead run in the batter's box once again. However, Hagedorn was struck out swinging, seeing Tusculum take a 6-4 series deciding victory.