HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Emory & Henry University Baseball Team (4-7, 2-4 SAC) dropped both ends of a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader to Lincoln Memorial (8-7, 4-2 SAC) Saturday afternoon. The Railsplitters took game one by an 11-6 score, before edging the Wasps 6-5 in extra innings in the nightcap. 

The Basics
GAME ONE – Lincoln Memorial 11, Emory & Henry 6
GAME TWO – Lincoln Memorial 6, Emory & Henry 5 (Nine Innings)
LOCATION – Harrogate, Tennessee
VENUE – Lamar Hennon Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (4-7, 2-4 SAC); Lincoln Memorial (8-7, 4-2 SAC)

Game One - Lincoln Memorial 11, Emory & Henry 6
The bats were kept silent through the first two innings of game one, but LMU opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. The Railsplitters posted three runs on a pair of hits to jump ahead 3-0. Emory & Henry had an answer in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore outfielder Rhett Barker (Charlotte, N.C.) roped a one-out solo home run to get the Wasps on the board. Junior outfielder Jadden Rodriguez (Thomasville, N.C.) followed with a single, stole second base and came around to touch home on an RBI double by junior first baseman J.D. James (China Grove, N.C.) to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Lincoln Memorial added two more runs in the top of the fourth with a pair of solo homers to push the margin back out to 5-2. Senior catcher Ky Gregoire (Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA) responded for the Wasps in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot of his own to make it 5-3. The Railsplitters struck for three more runs in the top of the fifth, pounding out four more hits to push the scoreline to 8-3. Emory & Henry scratched back with a run in the bottom of the inning when senior third baseman Drew Park (Mooresville, N.C.) singled, moved up on a wild pitch and a ground out, then scored on an RBI groundout from senior designated hitter Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) as the score stood at 8-4.

LMU would score twice in the sixth and once more in the top of the ninth to increase their lead to 11-4. Emory & Henry put up a rally in the bottom of the ninth inning when James reached on an error and Nester blasted a two-run home run to make it 11-6, but it was not enough as the Railsplitters took game one.

Lucas Smith earned the win on the mound for LMU as he went 2.2 innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three batters. Junior lefty Drew Lanzo (Indian Trail, N.C.) suffered the loss for E&H after giving up seven runs on nine hits with a trio of strikeouts over four innings of work. Gregoire was a perfect 4-for-4 with the long ball while Nester drove in three runs for the Wasps.

Game Two - Lincoln Memorial 6, Emory & Henry 5 (Nine Innings)
The Railsplitter took the lead for the second time of the day in the top of the second inning, scoring four runs on five hits. The Wasps put a run up in the bottom of the inning when freshman catcher Jaxon Ehret (Davidson, N.C.) reached on an error, moved up on a walk and touched home on an RBI single by Barker to trim the deficit to 4-1. 

Both teams were kept scoreless through the following three innings of play, but E&H broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Junior shortstop Jeriel Lamboy (Caguas, PUERTO RICO) laced a triple to right and scored on yet another RBI base hit off the bat of Barker to make it 4-2. LMU would score another run in the top of the seventh to push the margin back out to 5-2, but again E&H had an answer. James singled, Nester walked and junior second baseman Jack Ferguson (Abingdon, Va.) singled to load the bases. Ehret was hit by a pitch to push across one run, Lamboy drilled an RBI single to score another and freshman outfielder Maddox Harwood (Mount Pleasant, N.C.) delivered a sacrifice fly to score a third and tie the game at 5-5 and force extra innings.

Neither team could score in the eighth, but Lincoln Memorial tallied a run on a pair of hits in the top of the ninth inning to take a narrow 6-5 lead. The Wasps put the tying run on base in the bottom of the inning, but could not find the crucial hit to score him as LMU escaped with the extra-inning victory. Bradric Helton picked up the win for LMU as he threw two scoreless innings, retiring six of the seven batters he faced by strikeout. Senior righty Brady Halstead (Indian Trail, N.C.) was the tough luck loser for the Wasps after surrendering a pair of runs on five hits in four innings on the bump while fanning five LMU batters. Barker had a pair of RBIs on a pair of hits while Lamboy collected two base knocks and an RBI. 

Up Next
The Wasps hit the road on Tuesday, February 24 to take on a familiar foe as they square off against former ODAC rival Ferrum College. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. from Ferrum, Virginia. 

--E&H--