COLUMBUS, Ga. -- A four-run ninth inning propelled No. 1-ranked Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) to an 8-4, extra-inning win over No. 4-ranked Lindsey Wilson at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association-NAIA Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Softball Complex.

The Blue Raiders suffer their first loss of the season with the setback. Despite the loss, Lindsey Wilson (8-1) leaves southern Georgia with four wins over ranked competition during the classic.

Lindsey Wilson demonstrated its resolve throughout the game -- coming from behind twice -- in battling the defending national champions.

The Blue Raiders allowed a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first to fall behind early 2-0.

Chelsea Showers tied the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fifth. After Jenna Firestone earned a one-out walk, Showers sent a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence to knot the game at 2-2.

Jordan Hood was solid in the circle for the Blue Raiders allowing four runs -- two earned -- on six hits in 6-1/3 innings. She finished the game striking out six.

AUM (7-1) pushed the lead to 4-2 in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run from Katie Spain. Spain ended the game 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs.

Showers once again provided the equalizer with her second homer of the game and third of the season to tie the game at 4-4. Showers went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs and four RBIs.

The Blue Raiders threatened to win the game as Andrea Whelan followed the Showers' homer with a double with one out in the home half of the seventh.

But AUM's Cassie Jones (5-0) -- who came on in the fifth in relief -- pitched out of the jam with a ground ball and strikeout. Jones allowed all four runs on three hits while striking out nine Blue Raiders to earn the win.

The AUM offense exploded for three hits and benefitted from a pair of walks in the decisive ninth inning.

Casey Bryan suffered the loss in relief. She allowed four runs and three hits in 2-1/3 innings.

Lindsey Wilson -- with use of the international tiebreaker rule -- managed to get a pair of base runners in the bottom of the ninth, but was unable to capitalize to fall for the first time this season.

The Blue Raiders return to action at 9 a.m. CT on Friday, March 6 as Lindsey Wilson meets Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) in the first game of the Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Alabama.