COLUMBIA, Ky. – The No. 8-ranked Lindsey Wilson softball team opened its 2018 season with a doubleheader sweep of Bryan (Tenn.) Tuesday at Marilyn D. Sparks Park.

Lindsey Wilson (2-0) took game one 8-0 in five innings. The Blue Raiders completed the sweep with a 7-2 victory in game two. Alaeni Ray went a combined 5-for-6 on the day including going 4-for-4 in the second game driving in a run. Kalli Harris drove in six runs on the day with three hits and a home run while Amber Hancock also hit a homerun.

Game 1: No. 8 Lindsey Wilson 8, Bryan 0 (5 innings)

The Blue Raiders struck first in the second inning. After a Kelsie Cornelius single to leadoff the inning, Hancock hit a two-run home run on a 3-2 count to put the Blue Raiders out in front 2-0.

Bryan (1-7) had bases loaded with no outs in the third inning but was unable to capitalize. Leslie Beechem led off the inning with walk followed by back-to-back singles loaded the bases. Annabelle Ramirez got the next two batters out with fly outs. The inning ended when Beechem tried to tag up on a flyout to right field. Samantha Luckett fired the ball to home plate from right field where Amy Rogers was able to apply the tag and end the Lion threat.

Callum Pilgrim led off the bottom of the third inning reaching on a single to third base. Pilgrim then advanced to second on a stolen base and came around to score on a Sydney Fourman sacrifice fly increasing the lead to 3-0.

Hancock reached first on an error by the Bryan shortstop to begin the bottom of the fourth then reached second on a Luckett sacrifice bunt. After a Rogers single, Cassie Kooker hit a bases-clearing double to increase the Lindsey Wilson lead to 5-0. Harris hit a three-run home run later in the inning to put the Blue Raiders up 8-0.

Ramirez retired the side in order in the fifth inning for the run rule to be enforced. She pitched all five innings giving up four hits while walking one and recording two strikeouts.

Game 2: No. 8 Lindsey Wilson 7, Bryan 2

The Lions struck first in the first inning. Sydney Olander led off the game getting hit by a pitch, Heidi Smith reached on a bunt single advancing Olander to second. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third, Olander came around to score on Kayla Hayes ground out giving Bryan a 1-0 lead.

Lindsey Wilson tied the game up in the first inning on Ray double to left-center field. Lyric Houston gave the Blue Raiders a 2-1 lead in the second inning on a single. Ray would increase the lead to 3-1 before Harris drove in two runs to put Lindsey Wilson up 5-1.

The Blue Raiders added a run in the fourth and fifth inning increasing their lead to 7-1. Bryan trimmed the deficit to 7-2 in the sixth.

Hannah Epperson picked up the victory pitching four innings allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout. Lauren Decker, Breanna Clark and Abby Whelan each pitched an inning of relief.

Lindsey Wilson is back in action on Friday when they host Midway (Ky.) on Friday for a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. CT at Marilyn D. Sparks Park.