ANDERSON, S.C. — The Railsplitters rallied in the waning innings but came up short in thei South Atlantic Conference opener, as they fell 9-7 to the Trojans of Anderson University in the first of a three-game set on Friday. Lincoln Memorial University drops to 2-7 on the season while Anderson improved to 4-6.

The Trojans put up three runs in the bottom of the second, however, the Railsplitters chipped away over the next several innings and knotted the game in the top of the seventh on a home run by Josh Coker.

Anderson answered with a six runs in the bottom of that frame and held on for the 9-7 win.

Brandon Cowan (0-2) took the loss for the Railsplitters after a six-inning start in which he allowed eight hits and four earned runs while striking out seven batters. Ian Creager and Austin Pittman tossed the final two frames with Creager surrendering two hits and two runs. Pittman notched an unblemished bottom half of the eighth.

J.T. Trujillo (2-0) earned the win for Anderson with seven-strong innings in the start. He allowed seven hits and three runs while fanning four. Landon Beck did not allow a hit or a run in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.

Andre Rodriguez and Lee Agosto combined for seven of LMU’s 10 hits. Rodriguez finished four-for-five at the plate with a double, a triple and two RBIs. Agosto went three-for-four with an RBI and a run.

The Trojans also finished with 10 hits, headlined by Brett Cash’s two-for-five performance at the top spot in the batting order.

The Railsplitters and Trojans are slated to finish their South Atlantic Conference series on Saturday with a two-game set beginning at 1 p.m.

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Lincoln Memorial…. 000 110 140 — 7 10 2

Anderson…………….. 030 000 60x — 9 10 3

Brandon Cowan, Ian Creager(7), Austin Pittman(8) and Nick Pressley; J.T. Trujillo, Mitchell Cooksey(8), Jacob Saxon(8), Kyle Francis(8), Landon Beck(9) and Jonathan Zalud. W- Trujillo(2-0). L-Cowan(0-2). Sv- Beck(2). HR- LMU: Josh Coker.