HARROGATE, Tenn. – After scoring the first seven runs of the game, Lincoln Memorial exploded for a nine-run fifth inning and scored 19 straight runs to sweep the Eagles in a 19-7 South Atlantic Conference contest Sunday afternoon at Hennon Field.
Carson-Newman (19-20, 7-11) allowed its most runs in a game since it yielded 20 to Lincoln Memorial (22-16, 13-5) on April 16, 2011. The Railsplitters cranked out 21 hits in the game marking the first time since North Georgia had 20 on March 19, 2013 that a C-N opponent had at least 20 knocks.
The Eagles batted around in the top of third inning scoring five times to go on top 5-0. LMU starter Dominic Morabito had retired six straight when Jimmy Rice (Middlesex, N.J.) floated a base hit into center field with one out in the stanza. A fielder's choice that did not record an out and a walk loaded the bases. Paul Kirby (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate the game's first run.
A string of three straight two-out knocks produced the next four runs. Greg Jones (Maryville, Tenn.) lined a single into right field and Cade Snapp (Seymour, Tenn.) doubled down the left-field line to produce a run apiece. Brett Langhorne (Mechiancsville, Va.) capped the inning with a two-run single back up the middle.
With one out in the top of the fifth frame, Jones and Snapp hit back-to-back doubles to pick up a run. A two-out base hit into right field by Brendan Campbell (Yardley, Pa.) scored Snapp to stretch the lead to 7-0.
Lincoln Memorial flipped the game in the bottom of the fifth inning scoring nine times sending 14 men to plate to go on top 9-7. The first three men reached before a strikeout. A bases loaded poke to center field by Seth Hunt put the 'Splitters on the scoreboard. Logan Augustine hit a two-out grand slam over the scoreboard in right field to pull LMU within a pair. A single and walk put two out for Kalman who led off the inning. The third baseman hit a fly ball down the right-field line that Snapp made a diving effort for and missed as two runs scored and Kalman ended up at third. Muta Crusoe capped the scoring with a two-run home run over the left-center field wall.
The Railsplitters scored five more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as the C-N pitching staff missed with 10 straight offerings to open the inning issuing two walks and a hit batter. Timmy Wages roped a single into left field to score a pair. Crusoe brought home a run with a single and Tyler Adams doubled in a teammate. An error by Brendan Campbell (Yardley, Pa.) brought in the fifth run to expand the lead to 14-7.
Wages produced an RBI single to left field and Adams pounded a two-run knock to left field to add three more runs to the ledger for LMU in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 17-7 affair.
Carson-Newman's starting pitcher Grant Rabbitts (Johnson City, Tenn.) allowed two earned runs on three hits in four innings while matching a career high with five strikeouts. The bullpen worked five frames allowing 17 runs on 18 hits with four walks and three punch outs.
Five Eagles had multi-hit games led by Jones who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Langhorne, Lynch, Snapp and Addington each collected a pair of knocks.
Chase Randolph worked the final 4 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn his second win of the year scattering five hits and fanning a pair.
For the second straight game, each Railsplitter starting position player had at least one hit. Wages went 3-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Augustine notched three hits and drove in four while Adams went 4-for-4 with three runs driven in and two runs scored.
The Eagles return home Tuesday afternoon for a 3 p.m. first pitch against Shorter. The game will be broadcast in high definition and via audio stream on cneagles.com/live courtesy of the Eagle Sports Network starting 15 minutes before game time.
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