COLUMBIA, Ky. – A quick start by the Blue Raider baseball team helped Lindsey Wilson win its third consecutive game on Friday afternoon. The hosts put up 10 runs on 11 hits, including three home runs to down Goshen (Ind.) 10-8 in their series opener.
Eight different Blue Raiders were responsible for hits, including
Andres Duran and
Sam Gage who each tallied multiple base hits and a home run, apiece.
On the hill,
Mason Malone earned his third straight win in as many starts after working five complete innings, striking out seven and surrendering six earned runs on nine hits.
Glenn Simes collected his second save of the season, checking in relief of Malone and going the final four innings while allowing two runs on three hits and retiring six on strikes.
The first four of Friday's 18 total runs came in the bottom of the first inning and were sparked by a
Chance Stayton two-out solo home run to center field. Then, after a subsequent walk, Gage stepped up and doubled home Duran before he, himself was eventually doubled home off the bat of
Nazhir Bergen. The final tally of the frame came off a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, making the scoring 4-0.
Lindsey Wilson added a fifth run in the second inning off a Goshen balk, then countered a Maple Leaf run with a home run by Gage in the fourth, followed by another bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to extend its lead to 7-1.
The visitors posted a crooked three-run showing in the top half of the fifth, but the Blue Raiders continued to answer back. This time, it was Duran clearing the fence with his second home run in as many games.
Another pair of runs by the 'Leafs in the sixth cut the Lindsey Wilson lead to two runs, only to have an RBI-single by
Caden Davis open it back up to three.
Goshen still stuck around, however, and pulled within one run on a home run of its own in the eighth, yet the Blue Raiders got the last word thanks to an RBI-single by Duran the next half-inning to seal the deal.
Lindsey Wilson and Goshen resume their three-game series at 12 p.m. CST on Saturday at Egnew Park. Game three will follow at 2:30 p.m. CST.
