JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – At TVA Credit Union Ballpark, the Lindsey Wilson baseball team held onto its lead in the final innings to close out opening weekend with a 5-3 victory over Indiana University South Bend.

Sophomore Chance Stayton continued his hot start to the 2023 season with a pair of multi-base hits, including his second home run of the year, and Henry Paulino chipped two RBIs on two hits to help pace the Blue Raider offense.

The locals opened the scoring for the first time in this young season in the bottom half of the first inning. Michael Sizemore led off the frame with an infield, bunt single, then utilized a stolen base and a deep fly out to move around to the opposite corner where he was eventually plated by a Stayton RBI-double down the right field line.

Lindsey Wilson's lead held steady through the next two innings as Edwin Quedeza limited the Titans to just one hit over the span.

In the fourth inning, Indiana South Bend broke through to tie the game at 1-1, but the Blue Raiders answered right back in their half of the frame when Paulino singled home Austin Rayno to reinstate the locals' lead.

The following trip to the plate, Lindsey Wilson added to its advantage behind a Jonathan Gallagher sacrifice fly and another RBI from Paulino. Then, after stretching in the middle of the seventh, Stayton strolled up and knocked a solo shot over the left field fence to extend the Blue Raiders' lead to 5-1.

Despite a small push by the Titans, relievers Mitchell Buchanan and Nick Backstrom stood their ground to help Quedeza and the Blue Raiders preserve the win.

Quedeza finished his first start of the season with six complete innings of work and allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out three.

Next on the docket for Lindsey Wilson is the 2023 home opener, which is currently scheduled for Friday, February 10 at 2 p.m. CST against (RV) Olivet Nazarene University.