LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Emmerson McKinnis hit two home runs and the Lindsey Wilson pitching staff combined for 20 strikeouts as the Blue Raiders won a pair on opening day.
At the plate, McKinnis led the offense with five hits in six at-bats,
Nora Epley drove in three runs on three hits, and
Marissa Frolich added two RBIs.
Hallie Roberts and
Kayden Murray each collected a win in the circle. The latter of the two also earned a save.
Game One: Lindsey Wilson 4, No. 24 Rio Grande (Ohio) 1
After surrendering a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the first inning, Roberts locked in to hold the Red Storm at bay the rest of the way.
In the meantime, the Blue Raider offense picked up in the bottom half of the fourth inning when McKinnis clubbed a two-out solo bomb to left field. The next at-bat, Epley singled down the left field line, then was brought back around on a shallow right-field hit by
Aubrey Miller.
The following inning,
Kaiden Rodgers led off with an infield single to the short side. A throwing error moved her up to second where she was subbed out for pinch runner
Natalie Shaw. A walk issued to
Natalie Wandrie was met by a sacrifice bunt, setting up Frolich to single into left field and plate Shaw and Wandrie.
Grace Adams checked in to pitch the sixth inning and allowed no runs on no hits, then Murray tossed a flawless seventh to close it out.
Roberts finished with five innings of work, one earned run on six hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts.
Game Two: Lindsey Wilson 5, Huntington (Ind.) 1
Murray carried a no-hitter into the third inning against the Foresters but ultimately secured her 31st career win with no earned runs on four hits, no walks, and 11 retired on strikes.
The Blue Raiders got on the board first in the top leg of the second inning thanks to a bases-loaded walk to Epley.
Later, in the fifth frame, Wandrie started things off by doubling to left-center field and was scored by Miller who forced a Huntington miscue in the infield.
The next inning, McKinnis struck again on an 0-2 pitch and fired a laser over the center field fence, giving Lindsey Wilson a 3-0 lead.
Huntington ended the shutout bid in the bottom of the sixth, but a two-out, two-run double by Epley in the Blue Raiders' last at-bat provided a comfortable cushion to end on.
Lindsey Wilson will face Rio Grande for a second time at 1:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, February 14, immediately followed by a game with No. 4 Georgia Gwinnett. The Red Storm run-ruled the Grizzlies 10-2 on Friday afternoon.
