Railsplitters Win First Game But Suffer Cobras Bite in Nightcap

HARROGATE, TN – After a season-opening split with the University of South Carolina-Aiken over the weekend, the Railsplitter baseball team also split Tuesday’s non-conference double-header with the Cobras of Virginia Intermont College.

LMU hit the ball well in the first game, tallying 11 hits en route to their 18-6 win over the Cobras.  LMU designated hitter Jason Pabon (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) was a perfect two for two at the plate to lead the Railsplitters in game-one.  Pabon was responsible for four Railsplitter RBI, while teammate Casey Sedley (Miami, FL) also hit the ball well by going two for three, with three RBI and his second homerun of the year.  Newcomer Ralph Rosas (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) also had three runs batted in, while junior Bryon Izzo (Miramar, FL) recorded four RBI and hit his first ball out of the yard this season.

On the mound, Lincoln Memorial’s Scott Erland (Pegram, TN) picked up the win.  Erland tossed three full innings, giving up seven hits, six runs and six earned runs with no walks and two strikeouts.  Freshman Devin Karlsen (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada) closed the door in the final two innings, allowing only one hit and no damage with two strikeouts.

In the second game of the evening, Virginia Intermont kept the Railsplitters at bay following the bottom of the second inning in which Lincoln Memorial took a 2-0 lead.  The Cobras used a five-run top of the third inning to take the lead which they never relinquished through the seventh inning.  While LMU managed to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth at 5-5, VIC quickly regained the upper hand by scoring two runs in the top of the fifth and three in top of the sixth to pull away from the Railsplitters.  Although the Railsplitters were able to pull one run closer in the bottom of the sixth inning when senior TeWayne Willis (Hazard, KY) homered to left center to lead off the at bat, the Railsplitters were shut down the remainder of the way and fell 10-6 to the Cobras.

Although Steven Starbird (Rutledge, TN) got the start, it was Mitch Kramer (Amherstberg, Ontario, Canada) that got the loss, falling to 0-2 on the year.  Starbird went three innings, giving up four hits, five runs and four earned runs while walking three batters and striking out one.  LMU sophomore Brett Vaughn (Hayesville, NC) entered the game in the third and pitched through the fifth, giving up six hits, two runs and one earned run with one strikeout.  Kramer then entered in the sixth inning gave up three hits, three runs and two earned runs with two strikeouts.  LMU freshman Ray Burchell (Corryton, TN) tossed the final inning for the Railsplitters allowing two hits and no damage. Lincoln Memorial fell to the Cobras in the nightcap 10-6.

The Railsplitters are now 2-3 on the year as they prepare for their first home series of the year this Saturday and Sunday when they host Ohio Valley University.  Saturday and Sunday’s action is set for a 1:00 o’clock start both days with two seven inning games on slate.  As always, Lincoln Memorial University baseball is free to the public.