COLUMBIA, Ky. – At Marilyn D. Sparks Park, the Lindsey Wilson softball team made its 2023 home debut against Madonna University (Mich.), garnering a two-game split.

Game One | Lindsey Wilson 5, Madonna 4

The Blue Raider bats got off to a strong start on Saturday afternoon, wasting no time in going after the Crusaders' game-one starter, Maeson Schlaud.

In the first inning, Desiree Chang led things off with a single through the ride side, followed by another base-hit from Amanda Schick to push a runner into scoring position in the blink of an eye. After Alexis Garayzar was hit by a pitch to load the bases, sophomore Brylee Pickerell delivered the game's first run with a single to center field, plating Chang.

The next frame saw more of the same for the locals, starting with a batted ball into the right field grass by Brooklynn Ott, then another hit-by-pitch off the arm of Za'Kiya Sizemore. The duo later scored off the bat of Schick, bringing the Blue Raiders' lead up to 3-0 after two innings.

In the third, Lindsey Wilson, again, landed a runner on the bags courtesy of a hit-by-pitch. This time it was Pickerell taking one for the team, and thankfully for her, she became the local's fourth run of the day when later in the inning she would beat out the throw to the plate off an infield dribbler by Ott.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Crusaders began to make a little noise in the fifth with a three-run home run. Then a couple of batters later, the hosts were forced to make a swift pitching change following an illegal coaches visit, and Madonna cashed in on the error to eventually tie the game at 4-4.

The Crusaders' momentum did not last for long, however, as the Blue Raiders wound up answering right back in the next half inning when a double by Chang into center field scored Madyson Jones for the go-ahead run.

From there, the lockdown pitching of Abigail Cruz limited Madonna to only one additional base runner through the final two innings.

Despite Cruz getting the start for Lindsey Wilson, Savannah Robbins was credited with her first victory of the season after stepping into the circle in the fifth inning due to the illegitimate coaches visit by the Blue Raiders. Robbins allowed zero runs and one hit and recorded one strikeout during her short appearance. As for Cruz, her reentry into the game put her in line for the save, which she successfully achieved. In total, the sophomore fired 6.2 innings and retired four on strikes while surrendering two earned runs.

Game Two | Madonna 7, Lindsey Wilson 4

The Crusaders turned to the long ball in the second game, knocking two out of the park in the pivotal third inning en route to a 7-4 decision.

Madonna first opened the scoring in the second frame when Jenna Gilbert stole home, then in the third, two home runs in three at-bats, including a two-run ball, increased the lead to 4-0.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lindsey Wilson's gears started to turn. Cheyenne Sandoval nearly left the stadium with a lead-off double to left field, but when Pickerell stepped up to the plate two batters later, she made sure of it. The Blue Raiders' outfielder needed little time in the box before sending the ball to its permanent resting spot beyond the center field wall. The two-run bomb trimmed the deficit in half.

Madonna, however, got those runs back quickly in the top leg of the fifth inning, restoring its four-run advantage at 6-2.

A double by Sizemore in the sixth inning and a single from Sandoval in the seventh inning each plated a run for the Blue Raiders, but it was not enough to catch up to the Crusaders.

Grace Adams and Olivia Franceschi both saw time on the rubber for Lindsey Wilson, combining for three strikeouts and one walk allowed.

Offensively, Chang paced the local's offense with three total hits on the afternoon. Schick, Pickerell, and Sandoval all contributed two hits, including a three-RBI day for Pickerell.

The Blue Raiders and Crusaders are back at Marilyn D. Sparks Park on Sunday afternoon for another doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. CST.