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Box Score 2 KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Different year, same story, Lindsey Wilson is the Mid-South Conference Softball Tournament Champions.
With back-to-back wins against Cumberland (Tenn.) at Dotmar Park on Tuesday, winning 10-6 and 6-0, the Blue Raiders wrapped up their fourth straight conference tournament title.
The Bulldogs put Lindsey Wilson, which reached a program-record 48 wins, in position to need two wins with a 2-1 decision in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament on Monday.
Led by center fielder Ali Hart going 3-for-4 in the opener and catcher Jane Egiazarova hitting two home runs in the nightcap, the Blue Raiders got redemption with a Tuesday sweep of Cumberland.
Playing as the visitor in both games, Lindsey Wilson (48-8) took advantage at the plate with runs in the first inning.
It was 3-0 after the top of the first in game one as shortstop Madison Scott hit a single to center to score outfielder Antoinette Jenkins and Hart hit a two-run homer.
Cumberland (36-20) got on the board with single runs in the second and third innings, but Lindsey Wilson struck for three more runs in the third to take a 6-2 lead. Hart doubled home Krupinski for the first score and later came home from third during a steal attempt at second. Egiazarova drove in the final run of the frame on a double to left field.
Three innings later the Blue Raiders had a 10-3 lead, but had a small scare as the Bulldogs scored three runs in the sixth. Leading 10-6, Jordan Hood came in relief for the final 1-2.3 innings, allowing a hit with four strikeouts to preserve the win.
Cara Law (11-2) pitched to the win, scattering 10 hits for six runs with four strikeouts in 5-1/3 innings. Courtney Maynard (19-9) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits in three innings.
Hart finished the game with a home run, double, three RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. Jenkins had two singles and scored both times, while Egiazarova went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
After giving Cumberland its first loss of the tournament, Lindsey Wilson took complete control of game two with a 6-0 shutout. All six runs came in the first four innings, helping Hood earn the win (20-3) in the circle with 11 strikeouts and just three hits in seven innings.
Egiazarova hit a pair of two-run shots over the fence, with one in the second inning and the other in the third to make the lead 5-0.
Whelan hit a single to bring in the game's final run in the fourth inning, scoring Jenkins who had turned a soft hit to third base into a double to lead off the frame.
Jenkins went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored on a triple and double, Whelan was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Travatia Bowden finished 3-for-4 at the plate.
Lindsey Wilson is back in action on May 13-15 in the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championship at Lindsey Wilson Park in Columbia, Ky. The other three teams who will join the Blue Raiders in the double-elimination tournament are announced on May 7.