HARROGATE, TN – LMU won the South Atlantic Conference season series over UVA Wise, but the Cavaliers rallied for a 7-6 win in game three over the Railsplitters.  

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result Game One: Lincoln Memorial 6, UVA Wise 5
Result Game Two: LMU 9, UVA Wise 7
Result Game Three: UVA Wise 7, LMU 6
Records: UVA Wise (10-27, 5-19 SAC); LMU (25-13, 17-7 SAC)
Location: Harrogate, TN | Lamar Hennon Field

GAME ONE
- UVA Wise rallied with two runs in both the eighth and ninth innings but could not overcome the Railsplitters' early lead. In the second inning, Lincoln Memorial took a 1-0 lead after CJ Dugan scored on a single by Gabe Gray. The home team extended its advantage in the third inning with three runs, including a sacrifice fly by Kevin Fernandez that brought Ronny Matti home, making it 4-0.
- UVA Wise began to rally in the sixth inning. Jake Smith tripled to center field and scored an unearned run after Dane Frellick reached on an error, narrowing the deficit to 4-1. In the eighth inning, Smith homered, followed by a single from Joshua Morgan that allowed him to score after advancing on hits by Jacob Boyle and Morgan Miller. This cut Lincoln Memorial's lead to 4-3.
- In the ninth inning, the Cavs continued their comeback efforts as Jaden Ruehling and Carter Babb both singled. Smith walked to load the bases, and Frellick hit a sacrifice fly to score Ruehling. Morgan then singled, scoring Babb and tying the game at 5-5. However, the Railsplitters responded in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two unearned runs, including an RBI single by Gray and a sacrifice fly by Caleb Jordan, securing a 6-5 victory.
-Eli Reece pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and four earned runs while striking out two batters and issuing three walks. He threw a total of 86 pitches, 36 of which were strikes, and maintained a WHIP of 1.94. Logan Delph relieved Reece, pitching 1 1/3 innings without allowing a hit or a run, striking out one batter and keeping a perfect WHIP of .00. Ryan Whitson faced three batters, giving up two hits and two runs in just 1/3 of an inning, with a WHIP of 20.00.
- Smith excelled by scoring two runs, collecting three hits, and driving in one with a home run. Frellick contributed with two RBIs, adding a sacrifice fly to his stats. Reece pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out two batters. Morgan added one run and two hits to complement his RBI in the game.

GAME TWO
- The Cavaliers tallied 18 hits, including five doubles and a home run, but fell to LMU in game two Saturday afternoon. In the second inning, Lincoln Memorial capitalized on an error to score six runs, with CJ Dugan's double and Brady Morse's two-RBI single being significant. The home team led 6-0 after two innings.
In the third inning, Luke Johnson singled, setting the stage for Jake Smith's two-run homer, cutting the deficit to 6-2. Kevin Fernandez responded with a solo home run for the Railsplitters, increasing their lead to 7-2.
- The Cavs remained scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, while Lincoln Memorial also did not add to its lead. In the sixth inning, Gabe Gray scored on Caleb Jordan's RBI single, pushing the Railsplitter advantage to 8-2.
- The seventh inning saw a surge from UVA Wise. Dane Frellick singled and later scored on Dalton Chapman's RBI single. Jaden Ruehling and Johnson each contributed with RBI plays, bringing the score to 8-5. The Railsplitters added another run on a wild pitch, making it 9-5 after seven innings.
- Despite a quiet eighth inning, UVA Wise attempted a comeback in the ninth. Morgan Miller and Ruehling reached base, and Johnson's RBI single and Carter Babb's RBI double brought in two runs. However, the rally ended with Lincoln Memorial securing a 9-7 victory.
- Gabe Gowder pitched 5 innings, allowing 5 hits and 6 earned runs while striking out 1 batter. He issued 6 walks and faced 26 batters, ending with a WHIP of 2.20. Sawyer Patrick contributed 1 1/3 innings, surrendering 4 hits and 2 earned runs, while striking out 1 and walking 1. Logan Delph threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out 4 and allowing 1 hit, with a WHIP of 2.50.
- Jaden Ruehling recorded three hits, including a double, and drove in one run in the game. Luke Johnson matched Ruehling with three hits and led the team with two RBIs. Jake Smith contributed with a home run, driving in two runs and scoring once. Morgan Miller crossed the plate twice, reaching base with two hits and two walks.

GAME THREE
UVA Wise scored all its runs in the first three innings, with a four-run third inning proving decisive as the Cavs captured the 7-6 win in game three.
- The Cavaliers jumped to an early lead in the first inning against the Railsplitters. Jaden Ruehling singled, and Luke Johnson walked, putting runners in scoring position. Ruehling scored on a sacrifice fly by Carter Babb, followed by Johnson scoring on a wild pitch. Jake Smith added to the lead with a solo home run. UVA Wise led 3-0 after the first inning.
- In the third inning, the Cavs extended their lead. A series of hits, including an RBI single by Morgan Miller and a single from Ruehling, brought in four runs. The inning ended with UVA Wise ahead 7-0.
 -Lincoln Memorial responded in the fourth inning. Alex Kowalski hit a grand slam, cutting the Cavaliers' lead to 7-4. They followed it up with another solo home run from Kowalski in the sixth, reducing the deficit to 7-5.
- The seventh inning saw the Railsplitters add another run, narrowing the gap to 7-6, but they were unable to get any more across the plate and the Cavs held on for the win.
- Bo Trantham pitched 6 innings for the Cavs, allowing 6 hits and 5 earned runs while striking out 5 batters. He issued only one walk and threw 76 pitches, with 40 of those being strikes, resulting in a WHIP of 1.17. Trantham surrendered two home runs during his outing. Ryan Whitson came in for relief, pitching 1 inning and giving up 2 hits and 1 earned run. Whitson struggled with control, walking three batters, including one intentional, while striking out one and recording a WHIP of 5.00.
- Jake Smith hit a home run, contributing one RBI and scoring two runs. Jaden Ruehling recorded two hits, scored once, and drove in a run. Morgan Miller added a hit and drove in two RBIs, while also scoring a run. Trantham pitched six innings, striking out five batters and allowing five earned runs.

UP NEXT
The team has a week off before hosting Tusculum in a SAC series starting Friday at 5 p.m.
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