Harrogate, TN – It was a senior day celebration with style for the Lincoln Memorial softball team, as the Railsplitters honored its seniors by sweeping Catawba College to cap off the season at home. The wins moved the Railsplitters to 18-20 this season and 10-8 in conference play.
Game one started all Splitters, as Nicole Couvertiere began a senior day to remember with a three RBI double in the first inning, clearing the bases and putting LMU ahead 3-0. Brooke Strickland would hold the lead on the mound, allowing a total of one base runner in the first two innings going into the bottom of the second.
LMU's offense continued to produce, as hits from Brianna Baer and Gracie Palmer gave Reese Vivrette an opportunity to add onto the lead. The senior would do just that, delivering an RBI single to score Baer and turning the lead to 4-0. Kristin Griffin would make the score 5-0 with a sacrifice fly to plate Palmer, as LMU entered the third inning with momentum and a large lead.
Catawba would respond with two unanswered runs, but the Splitters stopped any Catawba momentum thanks to Alyssa Maples, as the sophomore pitched in with some branch work in left center, hitting her second home run of the season to make the score 7-2.
Maples would drive the final run of the game in, as after Catawba plated a run in the top half of the sixth, Maples would single in the bottom half to drive home Couvertiere with two outs in the inning, giving LMU an 8-3 lead that the Splitters would not relinquish.
Maples was one of three Railsplitters to collect multiple hits in the opener, as her 2-4 performance was matched by Bear and Palmer, as each netted two hits in three at bats. In total, the bottom three in the batting order went 6-10 in game one with three RBI, as the Railsplitters outhit Catawba 10 to six.
In the circle in game one, Strickland netted her seventh win of the season, pitching five innings while recording two strikeouts and allowing only four hits. Katie Fultz would finish the game for LMU, collecting the final two innings while striking out two batters and allowing just three base runners in a scoreless appearance.
Game two would put the perfect bow on the celebratory evening, as the Splitters run-ruled Catawba 12-4 in five innings. While Catawba threatened early in the first inning, Jasmine Kaylor pitcher her way out of trouble, stranding runners at second and third with her first of two strikeouts on the afternoon.
LMU would match Catawba in the first two innings, as entering the third inning each side had stranded two runners on base. After Kaylor retired Catawba in order to start the third, the Railsplitters offense came to life.
After a Palmer lead off walk was followed with a Vivrette single, Griffin broke the game open with a three-run home run to center field that gave the Splitters the early advantage. LMU followed the home run with consecutive doubles by Hannah McMeen and Jordann Reagan, scoring another run to make the score 4-0 LMU.
A Catawba pitching change would do little to stop the damage, as Reagen scored on a wild pitch to give LMU the 5-0 lead. The Railsplitters big inning still was not done, as Bogoski drew a one-out walk to bring Maples back to the plate. Maples answered with some more senior day fireworks, powering a home run to dead center field and giving the Splitters a 7-0 cushion.
After a quick inning by Kaylor in the fourth, LMU would prove that their third inning was no flash in the pan. A Griffin double started the inning strong for LMU before a wild pitch by Catawba advanced the runner 60 feet from home. McMeen cashed in, singling the runner home and putting LMU ahead 8-0.
Reagan kept the inning rolling with a walk before Bogoski followed suit to load the bases for Maples. After running the count even, Maples wore a pitch from Catawba, bringing home her third run of the day and making the score 9-0 LMU. A pitching change came as too little too late for Catawba, as a Baer walk drove in Reagen and put LMU ahead by 10 entering the fifth.
Catawba would force more softball in the fifth, staving off defeat for a half inning more, staving off defeat for with four runs to cut the deficit to 10-4 and forcing the run rule off for another inning.
Needing two runs in the bottom of the 5th to end the day early, LMU started the frame with a Griffin single into left field, bringing the winning run to the plate. After taking the first two pitches, McMeen ended her standout performance by smacking a home run to left field, solidifying the Splitters 12-4 win with her fourth hit in as many at bats while driving home her third run of the day.
The second game was also highlighted by Griffin, who drove three runs in while going 3-3 from the second spot in the lineup. With her second home run in as many games, Maples finished game two with three RBI of her own to speak of.
Railsplitter pitching also showed up, as Kaylor totaled two strikeouts in 4.2 of work, while Aslynn Lupton came out of the bullpen to hold off Catawba in the fifth.
LMU will play in its penultimate double-header on Wednesday, traveling up the road to UVA Wise for two games starting at 1:00 p.m. on the 15th.
