COLUMBIA, Ky. - A bounce back effort by Blue Raider softball secured a series win over Northwestern Ohio on Tuesday at Marilyn D. Sparks Park.
Lindsey Wilson fell just short to the Racers in game one of the day but responded for another shutout victory in game two.
Kaiden Rodgers mustered multiple hits in both outings on Tuesday as she paced the offense with four hits.
Atavya Fowler delivered three RBIs on three hits, and
Emerson McKinnis produced a pair of RBIs on as many hits.
Four different pitchers dealt from the circle for Lindsey Wilson, combining for 16 strikeouts.
Game One: Lindsey Wilson 2, Northwestern Ohio 4
The visitors pushed across all four of their runs in the second inning to take an early lead. On the other hand, the Blue Raiders were limited to one hit across the first three innings.
In the sixth frame,
Natalie Wandrie sparked a two-out rally with a triple to left field. Pinch-hitter
Marissa Frolich followed for an infield hit that, when misplayed by the Racers' infielder, allowed Wandrie to trot home.
Lindsey Wilson brought the winning-run to the plate in the seventh inning after Fowler singled in
Aubrey Miller. Unfortunately, Northwestern Ohio locked in to record the last two outs and clinch a two-run decision.
Blue Raiders' reliever
Grace Adams kept the home team in it as she worked six innings while giving up no runs on two hits and striking out six.
Game Two: Lindsey Wilson 6, Northwestern Ohio 0
Just as the Racers did in game one, Lindsey Wilson pounced in the second inning to go up big.
Frolich earned first base on a one-out walk, then
Sam Hartman and
Summer Ray supplied back-to-back singles to load the bases. Fowler checked in next and ripped a two-run base-hit up the middle. After a subsequent flyout, McKinnis found a similar spot to send her hit and also plated two runs. A Racers' throwing error and walk to Rodgers set runners on the corner, and a double steal attempt proved effective as McKinnis took home to give Lindsey Wilson a 5-0 lead.
The following inning, Wandrie doubled to lead things off, and Frolich did the rest on an RBI-single to left field.
Defensively, the Blue Raiders faced two separate bases-loaded jams but escaped both unscathed.
Kayden Murray earned the win for Lindsey Wilson, firing five complete innings, allowing two hits, and striking out seven to move into eighth place all-time on the program's career strikeout list.
Emma Watkins made her collegiate debut and pitched the last two innings with one hit and two strikeouts to preserve the shutout.
Lindsey Wilson travels to Columbus, Georgia this weekend for a three-day, five-game slate at the NFCA NAIA Lead-off Classic.
