COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson softball team completed a Mid-South Conference doubleheader sweep over Cumberlands (Ky.) on Friday evening at Lindsey Wilson Park.

The Blue Raiders (34-10, 19-3 MSC) captured the opening game 5-2 using a trio of late runs to cushion their lead, and followed with an 8-2 win in the nightcap, taking advantage of early Patriot (19-24, 7-19 MSC) miscues along with three home runs.

With the victory, seventh-ranked Lindsey Wilson has now won 18-consecutive games dating back to March 22.

GAME 1

The Blue Raiders scored the opening run of the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Callum Pilgrim, but Lindsey Wilson failed to push any more runs across after loading the bases with no outs in the inning.

The same execution issues occurred in the bottom of the third when Lindsey Wilson had runners at second and third with no outs, but once again the Blue Raiders failed to push runs across as they maintained their slim 1-0 lead heading into the fourth.

Lindsey Wilson finally doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth after Jenna Firestein stole second and later scored on a single followed by a Patriot throwing error to make it 2-0.

Cumberlands attempted to cut the lead in half in the fifth after Kaylee James singled and stole second and third, but a fly out ended the inning and preserved the shutout.

The Blue Raiders finally added some insurance runs in the bottom half of the fifth using the long ball.

Following a Sydney Fourman single, Bailey Mize crushed a ball beyond the left-field fence to make it 4-0. Abbi Goedde then hit a two-out solo shot, her seventh home run of the year, on a full count to make it a 5-0 advantage. Goedde's homer was the 36th of her career, moving her alone into third place on the program's all-time list with 36. She now trails former Blue Raiders Andrea Whelan (38) and Kristina Krupinski (40) on the list.

The shutout was finally spoiled in the top of the seventh by Cumberlands after Coari Robertson sent the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence to make it 5-1. The Patriots tacked on one more on an RBI single by Elisa Mauldin, but a pop out and ground out to second base ended the threat, preserving the 5-2 win for Lindsey Wilson.

Casey Bryan (15-6) earned the complete-game victory, allowing the two earned runs while scattering seven hits. Bryan recorded just three strikeouts, the first coming in the top of the fifth, but she was able to rely on strong play from the defense behind her. The victory marks Bryan's 54th of her career, moving her to second place all-time on the program's win list, breaking a previous four-way tie for second. Bryan now trails only former Blue Raider Jordan Hood (86) on the list.

Kacy Russell took the loss for Cumberlands allowing all five runs, four earned, while giving up 11 hits in 5-1/3 innings.

Cassie Kooker led the way at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance. Firestein and Fourman had two hits each.

GAME 2

Lindsey Wilson again struck first in the second contest, scoring three runs thanks to three Cumberlands fielding errors.

Firestein reached on an error to open the bottom of the first, and Kooker beat out a bunt single in which the throw to first sailed high after Kooker reached the bag, allowing Firestein to score all the way from first. Later in the inning with runners on second and third and two outs, Amanda McIver hit a ground ball to short but the Patriot first baseman dropped the catch, allowing two more unearned runs to score.

Lindsey Wilson dropped another three spot in the third with a pair of home runs. After Pilgrim reached on walk, Mize smacked her second home run of the day to make it a 5-0 Blue Raider lead. Amber Foukes followed two batters later with another booming home run to push the lead to 6-0. The Blue Raiders then hit three-straight singles to load the bases with two outs, but were unable to plate any more runs.

Pilgrim got in on the long ball action with a powerful blast to left to make it 7-0 in the bottom of the fourth.

Cumberlands again spoiled the shutout late, scoring their first run of the game on a throwing error in the top of the sixth. The Patriots attempted to add another run but after a fly out to center, Firestein threw a laser to the plate and Morgan Howard applied the tag on the runner attempting to tag from third.

Lindsey Wilson scored once more in the sixth on an RBI single by Fourman, and Cumberlands scored one more of their own in the seventh but the Blue Raiders came away with the 8-2 win.

Lyndsey Parden (18-3) tossed a terrific game in the circle, allowing just two hits and one unearned run, while striking out nine batters. She retired the first six batters she faced, and after giving up an infield single to start the third, she retired the next 10 batters.

Cumberlands' Mindy Jo Britt took the loss allowing six runs, three earned, on three hits in 2-2/3 innings.

Nine different Blue Raiders recorded a hit in the second game.

These teams are back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT for another doubleheader. Prior to the games, four senior softball student-athletes will be recognized and honored for their contributions to the program and to Lindsey Wilson College.