BASEBALL NEWS

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

Sports Release                                                                    February 4, 2006

Railsplitters Lose Round Two with USC-Aiken

AIKEN, SC – The Pacers of the University of South Carolina-Aiken allowed LMU a run in the top of the first inning and then shut the Railsplitters down over the final eight innings to come away with a 7-1 win in game two of a three game series in Aiken, South Carolina.

After knocking of the nation’s #8 ranked team in the opening game of the series on Friday afternoon, the Lincoln Memorial University bats were silenced for the most part on Saturday as the Railsplitters managed to pick up only six hit and cross the plate once.

LMU pitcher Zach Gray (Columbia, TN) got the loss, although the score won’t indicate how well he pitched on Saturday.  Gray went seven innings, giving up six hits, three runs and three earned runs, while recording three strikeouts.  In the bottom of the eighth inning, LMU senior Mitch Turner (Knoxville, TN) entered the game and allowed three hits, four runs and three earned runs, while walking two batters and striking out one in just one inning of work.

At the plate LMU seemed equally out of sync.  Lead-off hitter Mike Richardson (Murfreesboro, TN) and clean-up hitter Sergio Baez (Miami, FL) probably had the best afternoon of any of the Railsplitters.  Each was two for three at the plate with Baez recording LMU’s only RBI.  Other Railsplitters getting hits on the afternoon were Hunter Pelt (Coppell, TX) who was a mere one for four on the day and sophomore Derek Treece (Powell, TN) who was one for two. 

With the series now split at one game apiece, LMU and USC-Aiken will be playing the rubber match on Sunday to see who will get the better split of the series.  For the Railsplitters, it will be their last outing before returning home next weekend for a three-game series in their home opener against Ohio Valley College.  First pitch for Sunday’s final game with the Pacers is set to be thrown at 1:00 p.m.

Lincoln Memorial.... 100 000 000  - 1 6 1 (1-1)
USC Aiken............... 000 101 14X - 7 9 0 (2-1)

Pitchers: Lincoln Memorial - Zach Gray; Mitchell Turner(8). USC Aiken - Paul; Taylor(7);
Kingsley(9).
Win-Paul(1-0) Loss-Zach Gray(0-1) T-2:35 A-165
HR USCA - Sheehan (2).

-LMU-

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Head Coach:  Jeff Sziksai
Phone:  (423) 869-6345