Softball Drops A Pair Against Lincoln Memorial

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Lions softball team dropped a pair of South Atlantic Conference games to Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday, April 20 at Ponder Field. LMU was able to complete the sweep with final scores of 1-0 and 5-0, dropping the Blue and Gold to 15-26 overall and 6-14 within the league, while improving its record to 21-26, 9-11.

GAME ONE

Following three scoreless innings on both sides, LMU manufactured a single run in the top of the fourth with a RBI groundout by Meredith Johnson. The Lions wasted an opportunity in the bottom of the fourth, placing runners on the corners with two outs, but failed to score the equalizing run.

Runs were at a premium for the remainder of the game as neither team could cross the plate with a runner. With the game on the line in the bottom of the seventh the Lions had runners on second and third with two outs, but a line drive off the bat of Ellen Tillman was snagged and MHU lost a 1-0 heartbreaker.

Shelby Culler dropped to 7-7 on the season going the distance while allowing the game's only run and scattering six hits.

Erin Vickery led the charge offensively, collecting two of the team's six hits.

GAME TWO

Lincoln Memorial loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the second, but starting pitcher Lacee Hunsucker got some help from her defense and battled out of the jam, denying the Railsplitters the first runs of the game.

The Lions weren't so fortunate in the top of the third as back-to-back jacks off the bats of Jennifer Moose and Allie Jones gave LMU a 2-0 lead. The Railsplitters added a single run in the fifth inning to push their lead to 3-0. Moose added her second homerun of the game in the sixth, this time with a runner on to make the score 5-0 in favor of the guests.

That would be all the runs LMU's Sam Smith needed, shutting down the Lions for the second-straight game and capturing the sweep with a game two score of 5-0.

Hunsucker dropped to 1-2 on the year, taking the loss while pitching 2 1/3 and giving up two runs on five hits.

The Lions will complete their regular season slate on Saturday, April 23 as they travel to Hartsville, S.C. to take on the Cobras of Coker College. First game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.