Hickory, NC – The Lincoln Memorial baseball team is set to conclude its regular season schedule this weekend, traveling to Hickory, North Carolina, for a high-stakes three-game series against the 16th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne Bears. The series is scheduled to begin on April 24 and will wrap up with a doubleheader on April 25. This match up marks the first time the two programs have met since March 2025, when the Railsplitters hosted then 9th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne in Harrogate and successfully took two out of three games to secure a significant series victory.
The home-standing Bears enter the weekend in third place in the South Atlantic Conference standings with an impressive 33-10-1 overall record and a 21-8-1 mark in conference play. Lincoln Memorial arrives for the finale sitting at 27-19 overall and 18-12 in the conference, positioned just half of a game outside of fourth place. With postseason positioning on the line, the Railsplitters will look to their potent offense to lead the way. Gabe Gray and Caleb Jordan have been the primary catalysts at the top of the lineup, batting .367 and .358 respectively. Gray has accounted for 69 hits and 15 stolen bases on the year, while Jordan has added 62 hits and 13 steals. They are joined by Ronny Matti, who carries a .350 average, and Nick Kaelin, whose .524 on-base percentage and 1.032 OPS lead the team. Brady Morse has also provided consistent production at the plate all season with a .331 average, a team-high 16 doubles, and team-high 52 RBI. Alex Kowalski leads the team in homers, launching seven rockets on the season with a .271 average. Peyton Mullannix has showcased speed on the basepaths with 16 stolen bases while batting .258 with 14 doubles on the season.
On the mound, the Railsplitters will rely on a pitching staff led by Payton Armour and Lucas Smith. Armour has logged a team-high 67.1 innings and struck out 47 batters while maintaining a 4.28 ERA. Smith has been equally effective, posting a 7-2 record with a 4.19 ERA across 20 appearances. Adrian Smith and Eli Edds have also been vital components of the rotation, combining for eight wins and 88 strikeouts. Out of the bullpen, the Railsplitters may look to Merrick Graham and Easton Barnett to provide stability in late-inning situations.
WATCH: Railsplitters at Bears (Game One)
WATCH: Railsplitters at Bears (DH)
LIVE STATS: Railsplitters at Bears (Game One)
LIVE STATS: Railsplitters at Bears (Game Two)
LIVE STATS: Railsplitters at Bears (Game Three)
