NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Trevecca Nazarene University softball team (5-3) lost a pair of home games to non-conference opponent Lincoln Memorial University (4-6). The Railsplitters defeated the Trojans 5-3 (8 innings) and 11-2 (5 innings) on Wednesday at the Trojan Softball Complex. 

Trevecca returns to action at the University of Southern Indiana (0-0) in Evansville, Ind. on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 2 PM. The Screaming Eagles won't open the season until Saturday against Ohio Dominican.

The Trojans will host the Music City Invitational (READ) at Drakes Creek Park in Hendersonville, Tenn. on Feb. 26-28, 2016.

GAME ONE (5-3, 8 innings)

LMU jumped ahead 2-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. The Splitters opened the inning with two singles and a double to go up 1-0. An out and a walk later, a sacrifice scored the second run.

Trevecca figured out Splitter starter Brianna Taylor in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two and forcing Taylor from the game. Alex Richardson (JR/Ten Mile, Tenn.) walked to open the Trojan sixth and Shelby Andrews (SR/Dyersburg, Tenn.) homered to even the score.  

As the game went to extra frames, the Splitters plated three in the top of the 8th, for a 5-2 lead. In extra innings a runner is placed on second and LMU took advantage of a Trojan error, scoring the first LMU run. A two-run homer followed to put the Splitters up three.

Trevecca added a run in the eighth and had the tying run at second, but TNU could not get the tying runs in. Trevecca opened up the inning with a runner at second, Alex Richardson, to start their half inning. Shelby Andrews walked and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Mary Collins (FR/Collierville, TN) walked to load the bases. Caitlyn Hudgins (FR/Springfield, TN) grounded out on a sac that scored Richardson. The Trojans were not able to get any more runs home and lost 5-3.

Shelby Andrews was 2-for-3 with a run scored, a walk, a double, a two-run home run, and two RBI. Caitlyn Hudgins also had a pair of hits and the other RBI.

Haley Fagan (SR/Cornersville, Tenn.) (2-2) took the loss with 7.1 innings pitched an allowed seven hits, five runs (three earned) and walked two and struck out eight.

GAME TWO (11-2, 5 Innings)

Trevecca opened the game with a run in the bottom of the first. Ansley Brantley (SR/Kite, Ga.) lead off the inning by drawing a walk and stole second. Danielle Tyson (SO/Smithville, Tenn.) reached on a fielder's choice that as Brantley was out on the play. Alex Richardson singled, moving Tyson to second. Shelby Andrews reached on an error, scoring Tyson.

Lincoln Memorial score three in the top of the second for a 3-1 lead, a lead they would to relinquish. They used two hits – one a double, a sacrifice, and two fielder's choice hits to plate three.

TNU added their final run in the bottom of the second. With two away in the inning Kat Burbrink (SO/Hamilton, Ohio) walked and scored when Ansley Brantley followed with a single.

The Splitters added two in the third, four in the fourth, and two more in the fifth that eventually led to the run-rule enforced.

Alex Richardson was the only Trojan with two hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Ansley Brantley reached twice, with a stolen base, a hit, and a walk.

Trevecca allowed 11 runs and 10 hits to the Splitters.

Sammie Jo Ivy (SO/Enville, Tenn. ) (2-1) and took the loss with three innings of work.