HICKORY, NC - Lincoln Memorial capped its run through the 2026 SAC Softball Championship on Saturday with an 8-5 win over Anderson, securing the tournament title and earning an automatic bid as the Railsplitters now await their NCAA Regional selection.

After Anderson struck first in the second, LMU answered immediately when Alyssa Maples launched a solo homer to right-center to tie the game at 1-1. The Trojans regained the edge in the fourth on an unearned run, but the Railsplitters' response in the bottom half proved to be the turning point. LMU loaded the bases and took advantage of the momentum, with Kristin Griffin drawing a bases-loaded walk to knot things up before a defensive miscue brought home two more. Jordann Reagan then delivered the biggest swing of the day, blasting a three-run home run to left-center to punctuate a six-run inning and push LMU in front 7-2.

Anderson made things interesting in the fifth, plating three runs to trim the margin to 7-5, but LMU stayed composed and added an insurance run in the sixth on Reagan's sacrifice fly to make it 8-5. Brooke Strickland earned the win in the circle, working 4.2 innings, and Katie Fultz was sharp in relief to close the door over the final 2.1 innings for the save.

With the championship secured, Lincoln Memorial will now await its NCAA Regional destination when the postseason field is announced Monday at 10am.