COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson softball team returns to Marilyn D. Sparks Park this weekend to begin a four-game homestand. The Blue Raiders host Northwestern Ohio on Sunday before welcoming Indiana University—Purdue University Columbus on Tuesday.

At 5-4 overall, Lindsey Wilson is coming off of a three-game weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama where the Blue Raiders captured wins over Central Baptist (Ark.) and then-22nd-ranked Southeastern (Fla.).

Senior Brylee Pickerell recorded a team-high four hits during the Gulf Shores Invitational, including one double and one triple. She also drove in two runs. Her teammates Elizabeth Funk and Natalie Wandrie each chipped in three runs batted-in to help pace the Blue Raider offense.

Funk has reached base in all nine games so far this season for Lindsey Wilson and is one of three Blue Raiders with active hitting streaks of three games or more. Pickerell and Melaina Tucker are the other two on that list.

In the circle, Abigail Cruz and Kayden Murray both collected wins last week in Alabama. The latter of the two fired two complete games in the process and currently ranks second in the Mid-South Conference for total strikeouts with 27.

Northwestern Ohio last played on March 3 at Rio Grande (Ohio) and earned its first win of the season in the second game against the Red Storm.

Junior infielder Anna Ankney leads the Racers with six hits on the year and is the only batter in the lineup with at least one double, triple, and home run. She also holds a team-best three stolen bases.

Senior Carlie Hanes has made three starts for Northwestern Ohio in the circle, totaling 16.0 innings of work with 11 strikeouts and a 4.38 earned run average.

For Indiana-Purdue Columbus, the Crimson Pride are 0-4 to start the season but face Indiana Southeast and Midway (Ky.) on Sunday and Monday, respectively, before visiting Lindsey Wilson on Tuesday.

As of Saturday, a trio of Crimson Pride batters pace the offense with five hits apiece, while senior Sydney Owens has compiled a team-high 7.2 innings on the rubber.

Both of Lindsey Wilson's upcoming doubleheaders will be broadcast live on the Lindsey Wilson Sports Network beginning at 11 a.m. CST on Sunday and continuing at 3 p.m. CST on Tuesday.