Lions drop series opener to Lincoln Memorial

HARROGATE, Tenn. - The Mars Hill (21-24-1, 10-15 SAC) fell 21-6 to Lincoln Memorial (29-18, 13-12 SAC) on the road Friday afternoon to kick off the final conference series of the 2018 season.

The Lions led 4-3 entering the bottom half of the fourth, but a seven-run inning saw the Railsplitters grab a 10-4 lead that would only be expanded upon throughout the contest.

Will Reddick got the ball rolling for Lincoln Memorial by reaching on an error that allowed Dalton Dedas to tie the game at four. Tyler Adams' three-run home run put the Railsplitters ahead for the second time in the game. Nate Stinson, later in the inning, plated Chris Salvey with a sacrifice fly and Mason Ewers capped off the inning with a two-run home run to left-center field.

Each team traded a run in the fifth inning. Mike Rammuno's sacrifice fly pulled the Lions within five, but Tommy Wages' RBI single to right field regained the six-run lead. Matt Honeycutt once again brought the game within five with a RBI single to shortstop, but the Railsplitters' offense would explode once again in the bottom half of the inning.

Leading 11-6 in the sixth, Lincoln Memorial would score another seven runs to give them a double-digit lead late in the game. Seth Hunt began the scoring with a RBI double to right field, followed by three RBI singles from Reddick, Salvey and Wages to give Lincoln Memorial a 15-6 advantage. With the bases loaded, Ewers was hit by a pitch and was followed by a Dalton Dedas walk that plated two more runs.

In the seventh inning, Reddick hit a solo home run to go up 18-6. The Railsplitters would add two more runs in the eighth.

Honeycutt opened the scoring in the first inning with a solo home run to right-center field. The Railsplitters answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Adams hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Hunt and Reddick, later in the inning, crossed home off of a Mars Hill error.

Stinson hit a groundball to shortstop in the third inning that scored Adams to put the Railsplitters up by two.

In the top of the fourth inning, Cody Cline gave the Lions their second lead of the day. A single up the middle plated Josh Hall and Barrett Hennings to tie the game at three. A throwing error by the Railsplitters allowed Gray McCurry to cross home to give Mars Hill a 4-3 advantage heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Honeycutt led the way offensively for Mars Hill, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and scoring two runs. Reddick and Hunt each had three hits and scored four runs. Reddick and Ewers had three RBI apiece. Adams led all players with four RBI.

Ethan Elliott earned the win, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing five earned runs off of eight hits. He struck out 10 batters. Alec Bivins picked up the loss, allowing three earned runs, seven total, on five hits in three innings of work. 

The Lions wrap up the 2018 regular season with a doubleheader versus Lincoln Memorial on Saturday, April 21. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.