HENDERSON, Tenn. – The Blue Raider softball team opened its 2024 Mid-South Conference schedule with a series-opening split at (RV) Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) on Saturday afternoon.
Lindsey Wilson received a strong showing from the circle in game one before a late push by the hosts drew the difference in game two.
Five different Blue Raiders recorded multiple hits for the day, including
Natalie Wandrie and
Elizabeth Funk who each drove in three runs off their two hits.
Game One: Lindsey Wilson 5, (RV) Freed-Hardeman 0
It was freshman versus freshman on the rubber in the first outing, as the Lions' Kylee Brown and Lindsey Wilson's
Kayden Murray were each given the nod to start for their respective teams.
Both pitchers went the distance, but when the dust settled, it was the Blue Raiders' first-year dealing a three-hit shutout and matching her season-high with 11 strikeouts.
The visitor's offense got to work after two scoreless innings. In the third frame, an RBI-double from Funk, followed by fielding miscue by Freed-Hardeman put the Blue Raiders on the board with a 2-0 lead.
Then, in the sixth,
Kayley Bruener and
Kelsie Bostock connected on back-to-back base-hits to extend the advantage to 3-0.
Lindsey Wilson tacked on its final dose of insurance runs in its last plate appearance, courtesy of a sacrifice flyout by Funk and an RBI-double off the bat of Bruener.
Murray subsequently retired the Lions in order in the bottom half of the seventh to solidify her third win of the season.
Game Two: Lindsey Wilson 5, (RV) Freed-Hardeman 10
The Lions tallied seven unanswered runs over the fifth and sixth innings to put game two away and force a split.
As was the case in the first game, the Blue Raiders opened the scoring in the top leg of the third inning. Another infield error by Freed-Hardeman plated Lindsey Wilson's initial run, then a second sacrifice flyout by Funk swiftly doubled the lead.
Freed-Hardeman responded quickly, however, in the next half-inning and tied the game before later grabbing its first lead of the day in the fourth frame and going ahead 3-2.
The Blue Raider appeared to seize momentum back in the fifth when Wandrie launched her team-leading third home run of the year to center field. The bases-clearing shot scored three runs and put Lindsey Wilson in front 5-3.
The Lions, nevertheless, roared back with seven straight runs, ultimately sealing themselves a win.
Savannah Robbins started in the circle for the Blue Raiders and went three complete innings while striking out two and allowing two earned runs on two hits. Three relief pitchers combined to finish out the final three innings.
Lindsey Wilson and Freed-Hardeman conclude their weekend series with another twin bill beginning at 12:30 p.m. CST on Sunday at Tucker Field.
