HARROGATE, TENN. – West Virginia State Baseball moved back into the win column Wednesday, defeating Lincoln Memorial 3-2 at Lamar Hennon Field in a matinee matchup.
State moves to 6-4 on the season, while LMU slips to 12-10.
Graduate student Matthew Kline and freshman Nathan Paulsen each tallied two hits on the afternoon, while Kline slugged a double and a triple with a RBI in the contest.
The Yellow Jackets used a split staff on the mound Wednesday, with senior Foster Conis picking up his second save of the year.
The bats came alive for the Yellow Jackets in the eighth inning, as two extra-base hits proved critical for the go-ahead run. Paulsen tripled to deep left center, and then came home on a two-bagger from Kline.
The Railsplitters broke onto the scoreboard early, using a walk and a pair of singles to plate their first run of the day in the bottom of the first. The lead was short lived, as Kline led off the 2nd inning with a triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Brett Christian.
The 1-1 stalemate remained until the top of the fifth, when catcher Dylan Ball singled home sophomore Ryan Kay, who led off the inning with a walk.
Again the lead was short lived, as LMU used a sequence of events to tie the contest in the bottom of the frame. Leading off with a walk, the Railsplitters then used a sac bunt, a passed ball, and a sacrifice fly to even the score at 2-2, before State plated the go-ahead in the 8th.
Junior Nick Loftis registered the win, tossing an inning of scoreless relief where he faced his minimum.
UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets will begin Mountain East Conference play this weekend, and are looking to enter league action with momentum. State will travel to South Euclid, Ohio, to face Notre Dame College in a Saturday twinbill before wrapping up the weekend in Philippi, W.Va., against Alderson Broaddus in another doubleheader. Live stats and video will be available for all four contests.
