ORANGEBURG, SC -- The Railsplitters broke out of their early season offensive slump by combining for 33 hits and 30 runs in a sweep of the Panthers of Claflin University on Wednesday afternoon. Lincoln Memorial University led in every inning of the two games as they cruised past the Panthers 13-11 and 17-3. With the sweep, the Railsplitters move to 2-3 on the season.
The Railsplitters started quickly in game one as they stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the first frame. Curt Fuqua drove in Cody Baker, who reached on a walk, with a one-out single. Scott Miller and Brandon Morris each recorded RBI-singles in the inning.
Two Panther errors led to two more Railsplitter runs in the top of the second. Fuqua put the ball in play that would lead to an error and a run for LMU. Nick Pressley doubled in Fuqua later in the frame to put the Railsplitters on top 6-0.
Claflin University would mount a two-run rally in the top of the third, powered by Bullard's RBI triple and Iglesias' sacrifice flyout.
LMU got a run back in the top of the fifth with a single by Joe Horsley which sent home Seth Sharp. Gelson Perez started off a five-run sixth for the Railsplitters with a leadoff double that pushed the score to 12-2 in favor of Lincoln Memorial.
The Panthers would push back into the game with a four-run sixth and a five-run seventh to close the gap. Seth Sharp's homerun in the top of the seventh provided the cushion the Railsplitters needed as Lincoln Memorial was able to close out the game with a 13-11 victory.
Joseph Horsley was strong in the leadoff position with a 2-4 performance and two RBIs. Nick Pressley and Seth Sharp also recorded two hits in the game with three RBIs between them.
Chris McCarter picked up the win with his three innings pitched allowing one earned run and six hits. He struck out two on the outing. Seth Woods threw four innings of relief allowing ten hits and recording six strike outs.
In game two, the Railsplitters jumped on top quickly as Curt Fuqua and Nick Pressley's RBI-doubles put LMU on top 2-0 in the top of the first. They scored three more in second powered by Joseph Horsley's RBI-double.
Claflin scored one run in the bottom of the third which was answered by six runs for the Railsplitters in the top of the fourth. Gelson Perez and Curt Fuqua each recorded two-RBI doubles in the inning to put Lincoln Memorial out to a commanding 11-1 lead. The Railsplitters scored six more in the top of the fifth. Andre Rodriguez's two-RBI double was seen as the big swing in that frame.
The Panthers scored once more in the game as the Railsplitters rolled to a 17-3 win.
Justin King picked up the win and moves to 1-0 on the season as he allowed two runs and eight hits in his six plus innings.
Joseph Horsley and Curt Fuqua added three hit performances in the contest. Fuqua also pounded out four RBIs on the day. Gelson Perez went 2-5 with three RBIs.
The Railsplitters will look to build on this as they prepare to travel to national power, Florida Southern College, for a three-game set with the Mocs. Game one is set for Friday, February 10th in Lakeland, Florida at 7 p.m.
