LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – At the Grizzley Softball Complex, sophomore Abigail Cruz fired the Lindsey Wilson softball team’s first complete-game shutout of the year as the Blue Raiders and hosts Georgia Gwinnett split their series-ending twin bill.
The visitors got off on the right foot on Saturday after dropping both contests on Friday, recording their first shutout of the ranked opponent since April 11, 2021.
Game One | Lindsey Wilson 6, Georgia Gwinnett 0
Like the top line of a hockey team, the Blue Raiders turned to their peak of the order to get the job done offensively.
Desiree Chang, Za’Kiya Sizemore, and Alexis Garayzar each produced two hits in the first three slots of the lineup, while clean-up batter Tanlee Hudgins muscled in four of the local’s six runs on one clutch hit.
Lindsey Wilson got to work early in the first inning when an infield groundout by Hudgins plated Chang to give the Blue Raiders their first lead of the weekend.
Two frames later, Sizemore and Garayzar connected on back-to-back hits with the latter of the two scoring the first to double the lead at 2-0.
Then, in the fifth inning, the duo struck again with an identical series of hits to extend the Blue Raiders’ advantage to 3-0.
Meanwhile, Cruz and the defense kept Georgia Gwinnett in check, forcing the Grizzlies to leave eight runners on base, including five in scoring position. This left it up to the offense to try and add some more of an insurance cushion with the final outs drawing closer.
Following a lead-off strikeout to open the top leg of the seventh inning, Sizemore and Garayzar battled their way aboard behind a fielder’s choice and a walk. Then, Hudgins, who had not hit a home run since March 10, lined one up and crushed a no-doubter off the scoreboard in left-center field to solidify the Blue Raiders’ victory.
All told, Cruz picked up her fourth win of the year and retired three Grizzlies on strikes.
Game Two | Georgia Gwinnett 2, Lindsey Wilson 0
The second edition of Saturday’s doubleheader was nearly a carbon copy of Friday’s second game. Lindsey Wilson’s Grace Adams and Georgia Gwinnett’s Annalise Wood were each tasked with starting pitcher duty and neither disappointed.
Unfortunately, as it is with every game played, there must be a winner, and for a second-straight head-to-head match-up, it was Wood and the Grizzlies finding the late breakthrough to steal the win.
The hosts posted both of their runs in the fourth inning, and despite the Blue Raiders moving two runners into scoring position over the final three frames, Georgia Gwinnett did just enough from the circle to secure the 2-0 decision.
Chang and Garayzar managed Lindsey Wilson’s only two hits in the game, and pinch-runner Natalie Shaw recorded the team’s lone stolen base in the seventh inning to give the visitors a spark.
Adams would finish the day with one earned run credited to her complete-game appearance. She also struck out three batters and walked two.
Lindsey Wilson continues its non-conference stretch with a home doubleheader against Asbury University on Tuesday afternoon. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CST from Marilyn D. Sparks Park.
Source: Victory Sports Network