Wildcats Drop Marathon Doubleheader at Lindsey Wilson
COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Bethel Lady Wildcats traveled to No. 17 Lindsey Wilson Friday to begin a four game weekend series. The Blue Raiders took both games in what turned out to be marathon for both squads. LWC won 9-5 and 10-9 in ten innings in game two.
In game one, LWC'S Alexi Garayzar led off the bottom of the second with a solo homer. The Blue Raiders pushed across another run in the inning to lead 2-0.
The Cats came right back with a two-run inning of their own in the third. Maria Murdaugh accounted for an RBI driving in Kennedy Gillespie with a sacrifice fly. Alexa Thrasher drove in Leah Beasley with an RBI single later in the inning to tie the game at 2-2.
Bethel took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. Beasley had a one-out single. She stole second and later advanced to third on a Melanie Alexander fly out to deep center. Beasley would score after a Murdaugh single to center. The Wildcat lead did not last long as Lindsey's Makea-Al Kaluau slugged a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to give the Blue Raiders a 4-3 margin.
Bethel bounced right back in the sixth. Emma Johnson put the Cats ahead 5-4 with a two-run shot. Again, the Blue Raiders answered in the bottom of the frame. A three-run homer by Brianna Griffiths put LWC up 7-5. Kalani Kuroda entered the game in relief of starter Madison Haught. The Raiders scored two more runs to grab a 9-5 lead.
Lindsey Wilson outhit Bethel 11-7. Haught suffered the loss while LWC's Emily Boin went the distance to pick up the win.
Game twosaw Lindsey Wilson jump out to a 4-0 first inning lead after a grand slam by Garayzar. The Wildcats scored a single run in the second on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Kennedy Gillespie.
Bethel put two runs on the board in the third. After a lead-off walk by Beasley. Alexander singled to left. Murdaugh walked to load the bases. Thrasher drove in a run with a sacrifice fly which was followed by an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Johnson.
Lindsey Wilson extended their lead to 5-3 with a run in the bottom of the fourth. The Blue Raiders scored two more runs in the fifth to lead 7-3.
The Wildcats came off the deck with four runs in the top of the seventh. Alexander had a two-run double which was followed later by a Gillian Grahn two run single.
A big effort by Lauren Reimsnyder extended the game to extra innings as she pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh.
With the International rule in play, the Wildcats took the lead in the top of the tenth when Gillespie had an infield hit with the bases loaded allowing Thrasher to score. Beasley followed with an RBI walk and Bethel led 9-7.
The Blue Raiders rallied scoring three runs in the bottom of the tenth to win 10-9. Elizabeth Funk tripled with the bases loaded to give LWC the marathon victory. Reimsnyder suffered the tough loss while Boin was the winner for LWC.
Bethel dropped to 19-19 and 11-13 in league play. LWC moved to 29-11 and 20-8.
The teams square off for another twin bill Saturday at 2 p.m.
Live video:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/lwc/
Live stats:
https://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2021-22/schedule?teamId=k1xio9f2cu3f79kt