NFCA Leadoff Classic I Brackets

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- No. 4-ranked Lindsey Wilson continued its winning ways today with a pair of victories over ranked foes at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association-NAIA Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Softball Complex.

Lindsey Wilson (8-0) won Pool 4 in its first game of the day with a 3-2, 8-inning win over No. 16-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.). With the win, the Blue Raiders finished pool play with a 3-0 record, earning the No. 2-seed in the Gold Bracket -- the top bracket of the 20-team tournament.

Lindsey Wilson closed the day with a 9-2 win over No. 3-ranked Reinhardt (Ga.) to advance to Sunday's Gold Bracket semifinals against No. 1-ranked and defending national champion Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.).

Lindsey Wilson scored twice in the top of the eight and hung on for a 3-2 win over Central Methodist.

Chelsea Showers doubled home Brittney Graves -- who opened the inning at second base with the use of the international tiebreaker rule -- and Andrea Whelan plated Showers with a single in the eighth to give the Blue Raiders a 3-1 lead.

Jordan Hood -- who relieved starter Casey Bryan in the sixth inning -- allowed an unearned run in the eighth, but struck out Erin Enke with runners at first and second to preserve the win. Hood (3-0) allowed the unearned run while striking out three batters. She did not surrender a hit in her 2-1/3 innings of relief.

Bryan allowed just three hits while giving up a solo home run in the fourth inning. She fanned eight in 5-2/3 innings of work. Central Methodist's Haley Kennison allowed three runs on six hits in an eight-inning complete-game effort en route to the loss.

Travatia Bowden gave the Blue Raiders a 1-0 lead with a solo home run -- her first of the season -- in the top of the fourth inning. Lauren Geringer tied the game at 1-1 with a home run in the bottom of the inning.

The game remained all square until the Blue Raiders seized the lead in the eighth.

Bowden ended with two of the Blue Raiders' six hits.

Lindsey Wilson scored three runs in the fifth inning and four more in the sixth to break open a close game in a 9-2 win over Reinhardt.

Bowden, Amanda Trampe and Bailey Mize each drove home a run in the fifth to break a 2-2 tie. Whelan delivered a first-pitch, three-run homer in the sixth to blow open the game.

Lyndsey Parden (3-0) allowed two runs on six hits in a complete-game win.

Jenna Firestein led the Blue Raiders with three hits while Showers, Whelan and Abbi Goedde each added two hits as Lindsey Wilson out-hit the Eagles 13-6 in the win.

The Blue Raiders face top-ranked AUM on Sunday in the Gold Bracket semifinals. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. CT at the South Commons Softball Complex.