LMU & VSU Split Again 

HARROGATE, TN – It’s kind of like kissing your sister, but Sunday afternoon the Lincoln Memorial University Lady Railsplitter softball team split its second consecutive double-header with Valdosta State University in as many days, winning game-one 3-2, while losing the second game 3-1.

The Lady Railsplitters jumped ahead of VSU early in the first game, scoring all three runs in the bottom of the first inning.  LMU sophomore Alisa Burk (Blaine, WA) got the Lady Splitters on the scoreboard when she reached on a fielder’s choice, in turn scoring teammate Brittney Walker (Ooltewah, TN) from third.  The next batter, Chelsie McNew (Knoxville, TN) then stepped up to the plate and drove the first pitch of the left centerfield fence for a two-run blast and the score was 3-0 LMU.

Although the Lady Blazers got two runs of their own in the top of the second inning to make it 3-2 in favor of LMU, Walker (13-5) and her teammates held the VSU offensive attack at bay over the next five innings to come away with their second GSC win of the year.

Walker pitched seven innings, giving up five hits, two runs and two earned runs, while walking five batters and striking out three.  VSU’s Allison McKean (6-5) took the loss.  McKean lasted only an inning, while giving up two hits, three runs and three earned runs with a strikeout before giving way to teammate Ashley Mayhue.  Mayhue pitched the final five innings for the Lady Blazers, allowing only two hits, giving up no damage, walking one and recording one strikeout.

In game-two, it was Valdosta State that jumped on LMU first.  The Lady Blazers picked up all three runs in the top of the third inning and despite a solo homerun by LMU’s Burk, held the Lady Railsplitters to only four hits for the game while retiring seven LMU hitters on strikeouts.

Sophomore Jessica Stewart (Loudon, TN) got the loss.  Stewart lasted only 2.2 innings with three hits, three runs, three earned runs, one walk and a strikeout before teammate Kelly Click (Ashland, OH) tried to come in and get the Lady Railsplitters back in the ballgame.  Although Click gave up only two additional Lady Blazer hits, allowed no further runs and recorded five strikeouts, the LMU effort fell short and the Lady Railsplitters lost by a final of 3-1.

Now 20-18 overall and 2-10 in the GSC Eastern Division, the LMU women will step out of conference Tuesday afternoon when they play host to the University of the Cumberlands in a double-header that will get underway at 4:00 p.m. on the Dorothy Neely Field.