COLUMBUS, Ga. - Day one of the NFCA-NAIA Leadoff Classic did not disappoint as Blue Raider softball held off (RV) William Carey (Miss.) before outlasting previously-unbeaten (RV) Coastal Georgia at the South Commons Softball Complex.
Kayden Murray faced the opponent's potential winning run in both games on Friday but ended each threat with swinging strikeouts to earn her fifth win of the season and her second save.
Emerson McKinnis batted 3-for-6 with two doubles and a home run to drive in three runs, including the go-ahead run in Lindsey Wilson's second game.
Game One: Lindsey Wilson 6, (RV) William Carey (Miss.) 3
The Blue Raiders came out of the gates swinging against the Crusaders. With one out on the board in the top of the first inning, McKinnis and
Kaiden Rodgers clobbered back-to-back solo home runs to the left field corner. For McKinnis, it is her team-leading fourth home run of the season, and for Rodgers her first.
William Carey notched all three of its runs in the bottom half of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead.
After two scoreless innings, Lindsey Wilson got back to work in the sixth frame. The Crusaders managed to record the first two outs, but
Hannah Carter kept the inning alive with a double to left center field.
Aubrey Miller and
Summer Ray followed for consecutive doubles of their own, briskly restoring the Blue Raiders' advantage.
The next at-bat,
Atavya Fowler grounded a hard hit to the short side, forcing the Crusaders' infielder to misplay the incoming ball and allow Ray to score from second base. McKinnis tacked on the last run of Blue Raiders' surge when her double sent sharply down the left field line plated Fowler.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, William Carey loaded the bases with two outs, only for Murray to sit down the final batter on strikes.
The junior closed her fourth complete game of the year with eight strikeouts, one walk, and three earned runs on seven hits.
Game Two: Lindsey Wilson 3, (RV) Coastal Georgia 2 (8 Innings)
The Blue Raiders' first game to go beyond seven since April 7, 2025, quickly became a dual from the circle.
Hallie Roberts dealt five scoreless innings from the start and surrendered only one hit while striking out three.
Offensively, Lindsey Wilson did not break the ice until the sixth inning. McKinnis led off with a walk, then advanced to third base on a base hit by
Natalie Wandrie. An untimely wild pitch opened the door for McKinnis to make a break for home, and she successfully got the Blue Raiders on the board.
Coastal Georgia found a way to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh and even placed the winning run on third base with two outs. However, reliever
Grace Adams induced a groundout to
Nora Epley, sending the game into extra innings.
In the eighth, Epley started off on second base, per the international tie-breaker rule, and pulled off a gutsy steal of third base with McKinnis at the plate. The Blue Raiders' catcher found a soft spot on the left field line and buried a double to easily score Epley. A flyout moved McKinnis up to third, then another by Wandrie sent McKinnis home, giving Lindsey Wilson a 3-1 edge.
Murray was called on to pitch the eighth, but the Mariners refused to swim away. Another bases loaded situation presented itself to the Blue Raider defense, from which Coastal Georgia did tally one run. Nevertheless, a popout to Miller at third base and another strikeout by Murray effectively sealed the victory.
Adams is credited with her first win of the season for Lindsey Wilson after working two innings, striking out one, and giving up one run on two hits.
The Blue Raiders are back at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, February 28 to face Truett-McConnell (Ga.) and Brenau (Ga.).
