LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Freshman Hallie Roberts fired a complete-game one-hit shutout to help the Lindsey Wilson softball team earn a season-opening split on day one of the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzly Open.

The Blue Raiders lost ground late against the ninth-ranked hosts before coming back in the afternoon and outlasting (RV) Rio Grande (Ohio) in a pitchers' duel.

Brooklynn Becker batted 4-for-4 on the day with double, while McKenna Ingram and Nora Epley each contributed two hits.

 
Game One: Lindsey Wilson 0, No. 9 Georgia Gwinnett 9 (5 Innings)

Three of the Blue Raiders' four hits against the Grizzlies went down for extra bases. However, strong pitching from the home side thwarted any of the visitor's scoring opportunities.

Epley got the bats rolling with a lead-off double in the top of the first inning, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. A subsequent flyout left the Blue Raiders' freshman stranded.

The next inning, Becker slapped a two-out double to left field but could go no further.

Another double by Natalie Wandrie in the fourth inning proved to no avail as Lindsey Wilson ultimately left all of its base runners on the bags.

Georgia Gwinnett tacked on a run in both the first and third innings before stamping a five-run fourth inning and finishing the deal with two tallies in the fifth.

Kayden Murray dealt 3.1 innings from the circle in her first start of the season. The sophomore surrendered six earned runs on seven hits while striking out four Grizzlies.

Grace Adams checked in for relief in the fourth frame and sent down one on strikes to go with two earned runs on four hits.

 
Game Two: Lindsey Wilson 5, (RV) Rio Grande (Ohio) 0

Roberts and Rio Grande's Hannah Beers went toe-to-toe from start to finish in Friday's nightcap. The latter of the two did not allow a Lindsey Wilson base-runner until the bottom of the third inning but it was Roberts' debut performance that stole the show.

The first-year Blue Raider pitcher carried a no-hitter deep into the seventh inning before eventually allowing her only hit with two outs on the board. Despite losing the not-hit bid, Roberts bounced right back to strike out her final Red Strom batter, giving her seven for the game.

As for the offense, a sixth-inning barrage was the difference. Becker and Epley led off the frame with back-to-back singles, followed by a base-hit by Sam Hartman down the left field line to plate Becker. The next at-bat, Wandrie skied a sacrifice fly to right field, giving Epley time to score from third base. Brylee Pickerell joined the charge with an ensuing RBI-single to bring home Hartman, pushing the score to 3-0.

Following an infield groundout, Ingram checked in at the plate and rocketed her first career home run to left field, sending Pickerell the rest of the way around, as well.

The rest was up to Roberts in the seventh, and her efforts solidified the victory.

 
The Blue Raiders are back in action at 9:30 a.m. CST on Saturday, February 15 for a rematch with Georgia Gwinnett. Lindsey Wilson is also set to challenge 25^th-ranked Coastal Georgia at 2 p.m. CST on Saturday.