HARROGATE, Tenn. – After the game was scoreless through seven innings, Carson-Newman took a lead in the eighth before Lincoln Memorial tied the tally in the eighth and won a walk-off single into center field by Dalton Dedas 2-1 at Lamar Hennon Field on Friday evening.
It is the ninth straight win for Lincoln Memorial (19-9, 6-7) over Carson-Newman (17-11, 9-4) dating back to 2014 in the lowest scoring effort between the two clubs since 2013.
C-N's starting pitcher, Dillon Cate (Sevierville, Tenn.), matched a career-high with 7 2/3 innings pitched on the rubber yielding one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Ethan Elliot went the distance for the Railsplitters striking out 12 while giving up one earned run on two hits in the affair to earn the win and improve to 4-2 on the season.
"It was a great outing," Carson-Newman coach Tom Griffin said. "What more could you want from a Friday outing? He worked out of some situations. Unfortunately for us so did Mr. Elliot over there for LMU. It was two unbelievable Friday starts. It was a good ball game as far two pitchers battling it out trying to get opportunities. We didn't have any compared to what they had."
The Eagles had one base runner until Brett Langhorne (Mechiancsville, Va.) tallied the first hit of the game for the visitors on an infield single to shortstop. He was caught stealing two batters later as the two teams remained scoreless.
With the first two men retired to start the eighth inning, Tyler Thompson (Gallatin, Tenn.) stepped into the box. It was a 2-1 count when the right-handed hitter ripped a ball down the line in left clearing the fence for his second home run of the season to make it a 1-0 contest.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Railsplitters had the answer as Dalton Dedas singled with one out. After a lineout, the Eagles went to the bullpen and called upon Will Gardner (Morristown, Tenn.). A single to right field by Will Reddick put men at the corners. Two pitches later, Gardner uncorked a slider that skipped off of the dirt and towards the backstop allowing Dedas to score the tying run.
The first two men were retired in the bottom of the ninth before two seeing-eye singles that eluded Cade Snapp (Seymour, Tenn.) at first base put men at the corners. Dedas rifled the first pitch of his at-bat into center field to score Joe Stucky and end the game.
Six of the seven hits in the game for the 'Splitters came with two outs. The Eagles did not have an at-bat in the game with a runner in scoring position while LMU left six on base.
Dedas went 2-for-4 in the game with a run driven in and a run scored as five players accounted for the seven knocks on the day for the home group.
The two teams have moved the doubleheader to Sunday due to expected rain throughout Saturday. Following @CNathletics on Twitter will be the best way to follow along on Sunday.
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