Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 COLUMBIA, Ky. - The Lindsey Wilson softball team continued to add to the best start in program history, completing the series sweep of Georgetown (Ky.) with back-to-back wins at Marilyn D. Sparks Park on Sunday afternoon.
Game 1 (Five Innings)
Lindsey Wilson 8 | Georgetown 0
For the fourth time this season, the Blue Raiders struck for three home runs on their way to an 8-0 shutout performance.
The Lindsey Wilson (18-0, 12-0 MSC) offense broke open the scoring early as Mikayla Marquez dropped a doubled into deep left, only to be brought home two pitches later on a double by Lexi Isable ripped down the right-field line.
Isable would work her way to third base off a Makea-Al Kaluau groundout before being plated by Alexus Garza on the following at-bat.
In their second visit to the plate, the Blue Raiders showed zero signs of letting off the gas pedal.
Leading off the frame, Alexis Garayzar needed only three pitches to launch her third home run of the season to straightaway center, pushing the home side ahead 3-0.
After a Lindsey Wilson line-out, Lyric Houston decided to play copycat on Garayzar, sending the third pitch of her at-bat off the Sparks Park scoreboard in right field, her first home run in ten games and fifth of the season.
The barrage continued later in the inning when Sam Sims took advantage of an errant throw from the Tigers' catcher to score from third during a Kaluau at-bat.
Garza followed up Kaluau with a fielder's choice that allowed Marquez to score from third after she had reached earlier in the sequence thanks to another fielder's choice. The Blue Raiders would add a fifth run of the inning after a Garayzar at-bat resulted in Isable coming across the plate for the second time of the game.
Annabelle Ramirez (11-0) was business as usual in the circle for Lindsey Wilson, picking up career win No. 46 behind a one-hit, seven-strikeout effort.
Kaluau secured the mercy-rule victory for the locals, connecting on her team-leading ninth home run of the season off the first pitch of her final at-bat of the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Game 2 (Five Innings)
Lindsey Wilson 12 | Georgetown 4
In the second contest of the afternoon, the Blue Raiders overcame a quick start from Georgetown to swiftly turn the tables back in their favor en route to a 12-4 decision.
The Tigers went to work early on Lindsey Wilson starter Hannah Epperson, pushing for two hits from Kristen Klimesh and Kaylyn Barnett to open up a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Unphased, however, Lindsey Wilson countered with a prompt start of their own, leading off with a Marquez triple to deep left of the very first pitch of the half-inning.
Isable would send Marquez home just as easily, battling through an eight-pitch at-bat before knocking an RBI-single through the hole at shortstop.
After a Kaluau single, Garza stepped up and ripped a base-hit right up the middle to plate Isable and give Lindsey Wilson the lead.
Two batters later, Garayzar joined the fray with a single of her own, bring Kaluau home. The first-inning stream wrapped up off a wild pitch that allowed Brianna Griffiths to score from third.
Following a 1-2-3 top leg of the second, the Blue Raider offense got right back on the attack, posting seven runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Isable landed on first base after a fielder's choice and was sent home on an infield single by Garza.
Later in the frame, with the bases loaded, Lyric Houston was heard from with a bases-clearing single into left field that was misplayed by the Tigers' outfielder.
Marquez would garner a two-run RBI-double just a few batters later, sending a deep shot off the center-field fence.
Despite Georgetown tallying three additional runs over the final three innings, an RBI-single from Desiree Chang in the bottom of the fifth proved to be the deciding play.
As a team, the Blue Raiders tied a season-high with 18 hits in game two, posting a season-best .563 batting average.
Epperson (3-0) recorded the win in the circle for Lindsey Wilson, retiring two Tigers on strikes over five innings of work while surrendering two earned runs on five hits.
On the day, Kaluau and Marquez led the offense with four hits each. Garza and Garayzar rallied off four RBI's each for Lindsey Wilson.
The Blue Raiders will take a program-best 24-game road winning streak to Pikeville on March 19 and 20 for a four-game series with the Bears.