COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson softball team split their first two games of a four-game series against UT Southern on Friday afternoon at Spark Park. The Blue Raiders took the first game 7-3 before falling in game two 10-8.

Makea-Al Kaluau led the way with five hits across eight at bats with two RBIs. Mikayla Marquez finished with four hits as Desiree Chang and Zakiya Sizemore each had three. Emily Boin picked up the win in the center circle for LWC.

GAME 1: LWC 7, UTS 3

Lindsey Wilson picked up their 20th win of the season to open the series. The Blue Raiders pushed home seven runs across three innings while UT Southern scored all three of their runs on solo home runs for the contest.

After pushing home two runs in the first and second inning, the Firehawks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead.

The Blue Raiders took the lead for good in the third inning after pushing home four runs. Sizemore, Marquez, and Kaluau loaded the bases as the trio each singled to lead off the inning. Chang pushed home the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to left field.

Marquez then scored on a designed double steal, successfully taking home as Kaluau also advanced to second. Alexis Garayzar then doubled to drive home another run before a Sam Sims double drove home the final run of the inning.

Marquez added two runs in the next inning on an inside-the-park home run. Marquez raced her way around the bases on a shot to the left-field corner as Sizemore also scored on the play after doubling during her at-bat.

Kaluau drove in an insurance run in the sixth inning on a single that scored Brianna Griffiths who singled to lead off the inning. The Firehaks added a run in the seventh inning, but the Blue Raider had done enough to pick up the 7-3 win.

Emily Boin picked up her eighth win of the season going all seven innings. She struck out six while allowing just five hits. Kaluau and Marquez each recorded a game-high three hits for the contest.

GAME 2: LWC 8, UTS 10

Lindsey Wilson came out firing in game two, jumping out to a 3-0 lead after four innings. UT Southern got their bats going over the final three innings after being able to push home 10 runs to close out the contest after leveling the score with three in the fifth.

Lindsey Wilson responded to the first three-run by Firehawks with three runs of their own to regain the lead at 6-3 but UT Southern managed three more runs in the sixth inning to tie the game for the second time.

Failing to score in the bottom half of the sixth inning, UT Southern poured in four runs in the seventh to take control. The Blue Raiders managed two runs of their own in the final frame but failed in their attempted comeback bid.

Tennessee Southern managed 10 hits to Lindsey Wilson's nine as both squads recorded two errors.

Sadie Wener recorded the loss for LWC after coming on in relief as the Firehawks Murdock picked up the win and King recorded the save.

Lindsey Wilson and UT Southern close out the series tomorrow at Noon CT with the final two games of the series.