Harrogate, Tenn.-----The Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters opened up a three-game SAC series with a 6-4 win over the visiting Bulldogs of Wingate University in South Atlantic Conference baseball action Friday night. The Railsplitters improve to 20-13 overall and 10-6 in the SAC. Wingate falls to 22-14 overall and 9-7 in the conference.

 

Eric Kitts had a pair of homers to lead the Lincoln Memorial offense. Juan Alvarez went two-for-five with an RBI and run scored, while Gelson Perez had a double and three RBI for the Railsplitters.

 

Redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) had a homer and two RBI to spark the Wingate attack. Senior outfielder Cale Rogers (Snow Camp, N.C.) was two-for-four with an RBI, while junior outfielder Dodson McPherson (Graham, N.C.) went two-for-four with a run scored.

 

The ‘Dogs got on the board first, scoring a pair of runs in the opening frame when Yeung blasted his seventh homer of the year, a two-run shot to right to make it 2-0.

 

LMU responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Perez drove home both runs with a two-run double down the right field line to make it 2-2. An RBI groundout from Perez in the third put Lincoln Memorial on top 3-2.

 

Kitts led off the fourth inning with a solo homer to push the LMU lead to two. Wingate answered with a pair of runs in the fifth to tie it. Rogers drove home the first run with an RBI single, while a sacrifice fly from freshman infielder Cody Shelton (Charlotte, N.C.) tied the game at four.

 

Kitts led off the sixth inning with his second solo homer of the night to put the Railsplitters back on top. LMU added another run on an RBI groundout to make it 6-4.

 

Andy Fennell got the win for the Railsplitters, going the distance while allowing four runs on six hits, striking out three to improve to 4-1 overall. Senior left-hander Chris Nelson (Greenville, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 3-2 on the year. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out four.

 

The two teams meet again Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.