CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A late charge mounted by the Lindsey Wilson softball team was not enough as the fourth-seeded Blue Raiders fell to No. 5 seed Cumberland (Tenn.) 14-9 in game two of the Mid-South Conference tournament.
The Phoenix scattered their first 13 runs of the day across the first three innings, including eight in a rain-soaked third frame. With the run-rule in effect, Lindsey Wilson came down to its last three outs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Following a lead-off flyout in foul territory,
Brooklynn Becker singled the first pitch she faced to Cumberland shortstop. Then,
Nora Epley smacked a double to the right field gap, plating Becker for the Blue Raiders' first run. A subsequent base-hit by
Atavya Fowler put two runners aboard for
Sam Hartman, and on a 1-0 count, the junior launched her team-leading sixth home run of the season over the left field fence.
Back-to-back hits from
Brylee Pickerell and
Natalie Wandrie continued Lindsey Wilson's efforts, after which an RBI-single by
Kaiden Rodgers scored Pickerell. A walk issued to
Olivia Franceschi juiced the bases for
Katie Lorenz, who singled through the left side to bring home Wandrie. Another bases-loaded RBI, this time from Epley, went down as the Blue Raiders' last run of the inning, but it cut the deficit to 13-7 and extended the game to the sixth.
Cumberland one run in the top half of the frame to bump its lead up to 14-7.
In the next half-inning, Hartman got things started with a walk, only to move up to third base off the bat of a Pickerell double. Two pitches later, Wandrie plated Hartman on a sacrifice flyout, then Rodgers drove home Pickerell with her third hit of the day.
Despite keeping the Phoenix scoreless in the seventh inning, the Blue Raiders were handled the same in their half.
Along with Rodgers, Lindsey Wilson also collected multiple hits from Epley, Hartman, Pickerell, and Wandrie.
In the circle,
Hallie Roberts was credited with the loss after working 1.2 inning and allowing five earned runs on five hits.
The Blue Raiders move into the consolation bracket at noon CST on Friday, May 2 where they face (RV) Campbellsville (Ky.) in an elimination game.
