LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Lindsey Wilson softball continued to show positive strides in the early stages of the season, despite a setback to hosts Georgia Gwinnett on the last day of the Grizzly Open on Saturday.
Kaiden Rodgers batted 4-for-7 with a double and four RBIs, while
Aubrey Miller contributed three RBIs on two hits.
Hallie Roberts fired 7 1/3 innings across two appearances and surrendered only two earned runs to improve to 2-0 on the year.
Game One: Lindsey Wilson 10, #24 Rio Grande 2 (6 Innings)
A strong start and a balanced finished helped the Blue Raiders wrap their first game up an inning early.
Nora Epley and Emmerson McKinnis led-off the first frame with a walk and a base hit. After advancing a bag, each, on a wild pitch,
Sam Hartman stepped in for a sacrifice flyout. Then, Rodgers and Miller connected on back-to-back hits to plate a run, apiece.
Alyssa Philpot capped the initial barrage with an RBI-single to score Miller, giving Lindsey Wilson a 4-0 lead.
Following two scoreless innings, the Red Storm etched their first run in the top half of the fourth. In the bottom half, however, Hartman doubled in McKinnis and Rodgers drove in a pair on a single to the grass.
Rio Grande tallied its second run the next half-inning, but Lindsey Wilson kept on the gas as
Atavya Fowler doubled home
Summer Ray in the bottom leg of the fifth to extend the advantage to 8-2.
The nail in the coffin came from Miller in the bottom of the sixth inning. A bases-loaded opportunity paid off for the freshman who lined a ball into center field. The hit was more than enough for Hartman and Wandrie to trot around and score, effectively ending the game.
Roberts dealt 4 2/3 innings and allowed four hits, two walks, and one earned run to go with one strikeout.
Grace Adams checked on in relief in the fifth inning and went the rest of the way without giving up a base runner to earn the save.
Game Two: Lindsey Wilson 2, #4 Georgia Gwinnett 9
The Blue Raiders' early lead was not enough to hold off the fourth-ranked Grizzlies in their home park.
Epley, again, reached in her first at-bat of the game, singling to left field. A subsequent single by McKinnis moved the lead-off up to second base, then Rodgers drove Epley back home with a ripper up the middle.
Georgia Gwinnett went hitless in the first inning but found a breakthrough in the second to take a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Epley found her way aboard on a throwing error by the Grizzly infield. The miscue pushed her to second base and a wild pitch soon after advanced Epley to third. At the plate, Wandrie outlasted the Georgia Gwinnett pitcher to drop a single into right field, scoring Epley to knot the game at 2-2.
The Grizzlies responded to restore their lead and stayed in front despite hard hitting by the Blue Raiders to threaten late.
Kayden Murray started this outing, throwing three complete innings, striking out five, and surrendering four earned runs on five hits. Roberts pitched the last 2 2/3 innings of the game and retired the last seven Grizzlies in order.
Lindsey Wilson is at Union Commonwealth (Ky.) for a non-conference doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m. CT on Friday, February 20.
