HICKORY, NC – Lincoln Memorial Softball jumped out early and never let go Friday morning, knocking off Carson-Newman, 10-5, to punch its ticket to the SAC Championship game at McCrorie Family Stadium.

The Railsplitters came out swinging in the first inning when Hannah McMeen launched a two-run homer to right-center, scoring Reese Vivrette and giving LMU immediate momentum. That advantage grew in the second as Alyssa Maples delivered a two-run blast of her own to make it 4-0. LMU kept the pressure on in the third inning, plating three more runs with an RBI double from Hanna Bogoski, an RBI single by Cassidy Hack, and an RBI hit-by-pitch that brought home another run to build a 7-0 lead.

Carson-Newman answered with a solo homer in the fourth and then put together a four-run fifth to cut the margin to 7-5, but LMU's pitching staff steadied in the circle to stop the rally from turning into something bigger. The Railsplitters responded in the top of the seventh with three insurance runs, highlighted by a solo homer from Bogoski and a two-run shot from Gracie Palmer, to create separation late.

In the circle, Jasmine Kaylor earned the win, while Brooke Strickland closed the door over the final two innings to secure the save and send LMU into the league title game.

With the victory, Lincoln Memorial moves into the SAC Championship on Saturday. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m., with a second game to follow at 2:30 p.m. if necessary. LMU needs just one more win to claim the SAC crown.