Harrogate, TN -- The Lincoln Memorial baseball team opened South Atlantic Conference play in spectacular fashion on Friday afternoon, securing a hard-fought victory at Lamar Hennon Field. Entering the contest with a 3-5 record, the Railsplitters faced a daunting challenge in the visiting Eagles, who arrived in Harrogate with a perfect 5-0 mark on the season. In a game defined by elite command and defensive composure, the Lincoln Memorial pitching staff stole the show, shutting out a potent offense to clinch the series opener.

The tone for the afternoon was set early by Payton Armour, who delivered a masterful performance on the mound. Armour baffled the opposition through five and two-thirds innings, allowing just four hits while keeping the scoreboard clean. His ability to work out of trouble was evident in the second inning when he navigated a hit and an error by recording a clutch strikeout to strand two runners. Armour finished his outing with six strikeouts and two walks, consistently finding the zone and inducing weak contact to keep the game scoreless through the middle frames.

Lincoln Memorial finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Aaron Hobson singled and Ronny Matti followed with a base hit of his own, the Railsplitters loaded the bases when Ford Hallock was hit by a pitch.Gabe Gray then showed great discipline at the plate, drawing a bases-loaded walk to drive in Hobson for the first run of the game. The Railsplitters added a crucial insurance run in the eighth inning when Brady Morse singled and later scored on an RBI base hit by CJ Dugan, giving the home team a two-run cushion heading into the final frame.

While the offense provided the necessary support, the relief work of Easton Barnett ensured the lead would hold. Barnett entered the game in the sixth inning and was virtually untouchable over the final three and a third frames. He surrendered only three hits and did not allow a single walk or run, striking out three batters along the way. Barnett earned the victory for his efforts, closing out the ninth inning by inducing a fly out to center field to seal the shutout. Combined, Armour and Barnett allowed seven hits and issued only two walks in a dominant display of pitching that moved Lincoln Memorial to 1-0 in conference play.

The Railsplitters will be back in action on Saturday seeking to sweep the series in doubleheader action with game two slated for a 1 PM first pitch.