HICKORY, NC – Lincoln Memorial opened the South Atlantic Conference Championship with a statement on Thursday afternoon, knocking off top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne, 3-1, behind a complete-game effort from Brooke Strickland and timely power from Jordann Reagan.
After three scoreless innings, Reagan provided the breakthrough in the fourth, driving a solo home run to center to give the Railsplitters a 1-0 lead. Lenoir-Rhyne answered in the fifth with a solo shot from Kaylan Brown, but LMU responded immediately. In the sixth, an error opened the door and Cassidy Hack delivered a key sacrifice fly to put the Railsplitters back in front, 2-1.
LMU added an insurance run in the seventh as Nicole Couvertiere lined an RBI single through the left side to score Kristin Griffin and extend the advantage to 3-1. Hannah McMeen paced the offense with three hits, while Reagan finished with the go-ahead homer and the defense backed Strickland throughout the afternoon.
In the circle, Strickland was outstanding, going the distance and allowing just one run on six hits while striking out six to secure the win.
With the victory, Lincoln Memorial moves forward in the winners bracket and will play Friday at 10:30 a.m. against the winner of Anderson vs. Carson-Newman.
