Harrogate, TN -- Lincoln Memorial University secured a hard-fought conference series victory over UVA-Wise this weekend, taking two out of three games against the Cavaliers. After opening the set with a dramatic walk-off win, the Railsplitters battled through a back-and-forth doubleheader to clinch the series win. Although UVA-Wise managed to salvage the final game of the weekend with a 7-6 victory, Lincoln Memorial had already done the heavy lifting by taking the first two contests 6-5 and 9-7 respectively.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, Lincoln Memorial relied on a massive second inning to establish an early lead. Trailing after a scoreless first, the Railsplitters exploded for six runs, ignited by an RBI double from CJ Dugan that brought home Ronny Matti. Gabe Gray and Caleb Jordan each added runs through patient plate appearances and fielder's choices before Brady Morse delivered a clutch two-run single to left. Alex Kowalski capped the rally with an RBI single of his own. While UVA-Wise climbed back into the game with a two-run homer in the third and a three-run surge in the seventh, the Railsplitters found ways to stay ahead. Kevin Fernandez added a solo home run in the third, and Jordan drove in a run in the sixth. A critical wild pitch in the seventh allowed Dugan to score, providing the final cushion needed for a 9-7 win. Adrian Smith earned the victory on the mound, striking out six over five innings of work, while Dylan Maire provided late relief to seal the win despite a ninth-inning push from the Cavaliers.
The series finale saw a different script as UVA-Wise jumped out to a commanding 7-0 lead by the third inning. The Cavaliers used a three-run first and a four-run third to chase Lincoln Memorial starter Eli Edds. However, the Railsplitters showed remarkable resilience in the fourth inning. After loading the bases, Kowalski connected for a grand slam that cleared the fences and instantly cut the deficit to 7-4. Kowalski continued his heroics in the sixth inning with a solo home run, his second of the game, to bring the score to 7-5. In the seventh, Lincoln Memorial continued to pressure the UVA-Wise bullpen as Peyton Mullannix lined an RBI single to right field to score Fernandez. Despite bringing the tying run to third base, the Railsplitters could not find the final hit needed to complete the comeback, falling 7-6. The relief efforts of Eli Hanna, AJ Hootman, Merrick Graham, and Bradric Helton kept Lincoln Memorial in the game, combining for over four innings of scoreless baseball to end the weekend.
