GULF SHORES, Ala. – Mother Nature had her say on Friday, but the Lindsey Wilson softball team refused to be denied a chance to play on Saturday and it was worth the wait.
The Blue Raiders scored nine of their 11 total runs in the sixth inning or later en route to a doubleheader sweep of Central Baptist (Ark.) and No. 22 Southeastern (Fla.).
Madyson Jones,
Brylee Pickerell and
Natalie Wandrie each finished the day with three hits to pace Lindsey Wilson's 19 overall for the twin bill.
Game One | Lindsey Wilson 4, Central Baptist 3
Olivia Franceschi needed only one at-bat to make an impact for the Blue Raiders on Saturday. It just so happened to be the game-winning RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh to help complete a three-run comeback.
The Mustangs galloped ahead early with a three-piece in the second inning. Then, after three consecutive scoreless frames, Lindsey Wilson got its offense churning.
With two outs on the board in the bottom leg of the sixth inning, Jones and
Melaina Tucker dropped back-to-back singles.
Elizabeth Funk followed with a base-hit of her own to plate Jones and cut the Central Baptist lead to 3-1.
The next inning, relievers
K'Asia Palmer and
Abigail Cruz combined to limit the Mustangs to zero runs on one hit, setting up the offense for its last appearance.
Katie Lorenz quickly led things off with a single, then moved up to second base on a single by
Kayley Bruener. The pair swiftly advanced a bag each on infield error before a double off the bat of Wandrie brought home Lorenz. A brief pitching change
opened the door for Pickerell to pounce, and her ensuing double scored Bruener to tie the game. Lindsey Wilson called on pinch-hitter Franceschi to get the job done, to which she left no doubt on a base-hit to plate Wandrie.
Cruz collected credit for the win in the circle for the Blue Raiders, her first of the season.
Grace Adams started the game and went four complete innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and striking out one.
Game Two | Lindsey Wilson 7, #22 Southeastern 4 (8 Innings)
It took an extra inning, but the Blue Raiders made it count to secure an early-season upset over the 22nd-ranked Fire.
A wild pitch to plate Pickerell opened the scoring in the top half of the third inning. Lindsey Wilson soon doubled its lead on
Kelsie Bostock's first home run of the season in the fourth frame.
Southeastern answered back, however, and ended up recording its first hit of the game in the bottom half of the fourth. The hit was one of three by the Fire in the frame, leading to three runs and a 3-2 advantage.
The designated home team remained in front through the fifth and sixth innings, forcing Lindsey Wilson to try and win it from behind, again.
In the top half of the seventh, the Blue Raiders managed the tying-run on a two-out triple by Pickerell to plate Wandrie. Two batters later, Jones stepped in and laid down a single to score Pickerell and push Lindsey Wilson back to the lead.
The Fire drew level at 4-4 in the bottom of the inning, sending the game to extras.
With Tucker placed in scoring position on the international tie-breaker rule, the Blue Raiders got right to work and brought her home on an RBI-single from Funk. A combo of base-hits by Lorenz and Bruener subsequently juiced the bases for Wandrie, who rocked a double to right-center field to add two insurance runs.
Southeastern still had a chance to extend the game in the next half-inning, but freshman starter
Kayden Murray put out the flame and retired the Fire in order.
Murray went the distance for her second win in as many starts, dealing eight complete innings, surrendering four earned runs on six hits, and tallying five strikeouts.
Lindsey Wilson resumes its stay at the Gulf Shores Invitational at 9 a.m. CST on Sunday, March 3 versus Houston-Victoria (Texas).
