COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Dominating pitching made up for a lackluster performance at the plate to give the Lindsey Wilson College softball team a pair of wins against West Virginia University Tech on Saturday at Lindsey Wilson Park. The Blue Raiders won the opening game 3-0 and edged the Lady Bears 1-0 in eight innings in game two.
Morgan Paschall earned the win in the first game, pitching six innings with six strikeouts and no earned runs. Anyibell Ramirez closed out the game in the seventh inning to earn the save, striking out all three West Virginia Tech batters.
Ramirez completed her strong day in the circle with a complete-game win in the finale. Throwing eight innings, Ramirez finished with 17 strikeouts and allowed just one hit after facing 26 batters with no walks.
Lindsey Wilson (13-4, 6-0 MSC) outhit West Virginia Tech 10-5 in game one and was led by left fielder Alexis Rodgers, shortstop Jordan Gilland and second baseman Kristen Spear all finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Rodgers scored a run and added a walk, while Gilland also tallied an RBI.
Game two was a pitcher's duel, as the Blue Raiders edged the hitting battle 5-1, while scoring just one run in the game. Rodgers paced the offense with a 2-for-4 performance, including the game-winning RBI.
The Blue Raiders opened game one with a pair of runs, added another score in the third, then spent the rest of the game shutting down the Lady Bear offense to secure the win.
Rodgers opened the first inning with a single, then right fielder Megan Huckaby laid down a bunt for a base hit followed by another bunt for a hit by Ramirez.
The scoring began as catcher Ally Goniea reached on an RBI fielder's-choice hit and Gilland singled to center field, scoring Rodgers and Ramirez.
Facing Ramirez in the pitcher's duel in game two was Diana Humphreys who finished with 10 strikeouts and allowed just five hits and a walk in 7.1 innings.
After seven innings of scoreless softball, the Blue Raiders took advantage of international tie-breaker rules to take the win from the Lady Bears (6-11, 0-6 MSC) in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Opening the inning with pinch runner Sunny Bayne already on second base due to tie-breaker rules, Rodgers put down a perfect bunt to reach first safely as Bayne rounded third base and came home to win the game.
No Lady Bears connected on more than one hit in either game, while four finished 1-for-3 from the plate in game one. First baseman Chelsea Holley tallied the lone hit in game two.
Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 1 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 17 for a doubleheader at Campbellsville (Ky.) University.
Notes
- Lindsey Wilson outscored West Virginia Tech 19-0 over the weekend, winning all four games.
- The Blue Raiders are currently on a seven-game winning streak.
- The doubleheader against Union (Ky.) College scheduled for Sunday, March 14 has been cancelled. Lindsey Wilson's next action will be at Campbellsville on Wednesday.
Click here for game one box score.
Click here for game two box score.
