JOHNSON CITY, TN - Lincoln Memorial University softball split its opening day at the Big Region Tournament on Sunday at Winged Deer Park, falling 5-1 to host King in the opener before bouncing back with a 16-7 victory over Davis & Elkins in the second game of the day.

In the season opener against King, the Railsplitters were held to three hits in a 5-1 setback. King scored once in the first and added four runs in the second to build the early cushion. LMU got on the board in the third when Reese Vivrette came around to score, and Kristin Griffin drove her in with a sacrifice fly to center. Vivrette finished 2-for-4 to lead the Railsplitters at the plate, while Anna Kate Reichter went 1-for-3 with a double. In the circle, Brooke Strickland worked 6.0 innings, striking out five.

Lincoln Memorial responded with a strong offensive outing in game two, scoring eight runs in the first inning and five more in the second on the way to a 17-7 victory over Davis & Elkins. The Railsplitters totaled 12 hits and drew six walks while taking advantage of five Davis & Elkins errors. Hanna Bogoski led LMU at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Vivrette went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Reichter finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, and McMeen added a 2-for-4 effort with a run scored. Jasmine Kaylor earned the win after working 4.0 innings, and Katie Fultz pitched the final inning.

Lincoln Memorial continues tournament play Monday with two more games, facing Glenville State at 10:00 a.m. before taking on Concord at 12:00 p.m.