RUSSELL SPRINGS, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson baseball team opened the 2026 season with a 12-3 victory over Indiana Columbus on Saturday at Russell County High School.

The Blue Raiders recorded 12 hits, eight stolen bases and drew eight walks. Blane Bradford went 3-for-4, driving in a pair of runs and hitting a home run in the victory. Caden Davis also went 3-for-4 while Drake Young recorded four RBI's. Jack Ballou got the start for Lindsey Wilso,n going five inning,s allowing three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. 

Ballou pitched a scoreless first inning after giving up a leadoff infield single. The Blue Raiders got on the board instantly, as Bradford hit a leadoff home run off the Pride's starting pitcher, Riley Mertl. Diego Andino singled, followed by walks by both Keith Stewart and Jackson Steele. Lindsey Wilson made it 2-0 after Amir Pineiro reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Andino. \ Young walked with the bases loaded, which scored Stewart to make the score 3-0. A wild pitch by new pitcher, Zayne Smith, made the score 4-0. Lindsey Wilson increased its lead to  5-0 after an RBI-groundout by Isaac Samano.

The Pride got on the board in the top of the second following a passed ball to make it 5-1. IU Columbus made the score 5-3 in the top of the third inning when Quentcy Perry drove in two on a two-out single. 

The Blue Raiders made the score 6-3 after an RBI-groundout by Young that scored Zane Gist. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Samano had an RBI-single that plated Pineiro, making the score 7-3. Samano scored on an error, adding to the Blue Raider lead, followed by a two-out single by Bradford, scoring Davis to increase the lead to 9-3. 

Young drove in two more runs for Lindsey Wilson in the bottom of the sixth inning with a double that scored both Steele and Stewart. Pineiro made the lead 12-3 in the bottom of the eighth after a single that scored Stewart. 

Lindsey Wilson and Indiana Columbus close out the series on Sunday at 10 a..m CT at Russell County High School.