Harrogate, TN -- Lincoln Memorial baseball showcased an explosive offensive performance on Tuesday at Lamar Hennon Field, securing a dominant 23-12 victory over Bluefield State in a seven-inning midweek non-conference match up. The win marked the second time this season the Railsplitters have defeated Big Blue by run-rule, highlighted by a historic scoring output that represented their highest run total of the year. The contest in Harrogate was defined by a massive opening frame that saw Lincoln Memorial cross the plate 13 times, the first time the program has scored 13 or more runs in a single inning since the 2023 season.
The Railsplitters wasted no time establishing control, sending 18 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. The onslaught began when Caleb Jordan doubled in Gabe Gray, followed by a series of productive at-bats including an RBI single from Peyton Mullannix and a run-scoring hit by Nick Kaelin. The momentum peaked with a barrage of extra-base hits as Gabe Gray tripled, Brady Morse doubled in two runs, and Alex Kowalski launched a two-run home run. Josh Marmo added to the tally with a triple of his own to cap off the 13-run surge. The offensive pressure continued into the second inning where the Railsplitters added nine more runs, fueled by a two-run triple from Caleb Jordan and RBI singles from Ayden Jackson and Gabe Gray, pushing the lead to a staggering 22-0.
Bluefield State refused to go quietly, orchestrating a comeback attempt starting in the third inning. Big Blue exploded for seven runs on seven hits against the Lincoln Memorial bullpen, punctuated by a two-run triple from Nick Diaz and run-scoring hits from Anderson Moreno and Edwin Hernandez. The visitors continued to chip away at the deficit with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth, narrowing the gap to 22-12. However, Lincoln Memorial responded in the bottom of the fifth as Brady Burns drove in Caleb Jordan with a sacrifice fly to reach the 23-run mark.
The Railsplitters' box score reflected a collective effort at the plate, with Ayden Jackson leading the way with three hits and two runs batted in. Gabe Gray was a constant threat, finishing 3-for-4 with four runs scored and two runs batted in, while Caleb Jordan reached base in all four of his plate appearances, recording two hits, three walks, and three runs batted in. Peyton Mullannix and Alex Kowalski each contributed two hits and three runs batted in to anchor the middle of the order. On the basepaths, Lincoln Memorial was aggressive, recording multiple stolen bases including two from Caleb Jordan and one each from Nick Kaelin and Alex Kowalski.
On the mound, Lucas Smith earned his fourth win of the season after tossing two scoreless frames to start the game, allowing just two hits and striking out two. While the middle relief struggled against the Bluefield State rally, Easton Barnett provided much-needed stability to close out the contest. Barnett entered in the fifth inning and threw 2.1 innings of hitless baseball, striking out one and allowing no runs to seal the run-rule victory. The Railsplitters pitching staff combined to limit Bluefield State to zero runs over the final two innings, ensuring the game ended early via the scoring margin.
