COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Despite tying No. 23 Taylor (Ind.) University 7-7 in hits in game one, the Lindsey Wilson College baseball team committed three errors and left seven runners on base to give Taylor a 3-1 win on Tuesday. The Blue Raider bats, however, came alive in game two to register a 7-3 win at Lindsey Wilson Park.
Right fielder Joseph Willis paced the Blue Raiders, going 3-for-6 at the plate in both games combines with two runs scored, an RBI and two doubles. Third baseman Max Rhodes helped break game two open in favor of Lindsey Wilson with a two-RBI double as he finished the game with a 1-for-2 performance with a run scored as well.
Even though he took the loss in the opener, Cody Wales was impressive, pitching 6.0 innings with five strikeouts and no walks while allowing no earned runs and scattering just six hits.
Levi Duncan earned the win for Lindsey Wilson, throwing 5.0 innings with 10 strikeouts and just one walk with three earned runs. Derek Cape finished off the last two innings to take the save, striking out five of the six batters he faced.
Lindsey Wilson fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning of game one and was never able to recover despite having the bases loaded twice without being able to bring a run home. Taylor added a pair of runs in the fifth inning to push ahead by three and secure the win.
The Blue Raiders broke up the shutout in the seventh inning with a run, but came up empty the rest of the way with the three errors and runners left on base eliminating any chance of a comeback win.
While the Lindsey Wilson bats were cooled in game one, they caught on fire in game two, especially in the third inning where they scored six runs to take a 6-0 lead. Taylor fought back with three runs over the next two innings, but Lindsey Wilson was able to stymie the rally with an insurance score in the bottom of the sixth.
With a four-run lead, Taylor was no match for Cape as he sent down batter after batter to earn the save and give the Blue Raiders a split with the 23rd ranked team in the nation.
Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 4 p.m. CT on April 2 against St. Catharine (Ky.) College at Lindsey Wilson Park.
Click here for game one box score.
Click here for game two box score.
