LEBANON, Tenn. – Annabelle Ramirez tossed a five-hit shutout and Cassie Matlock homered and doubled twice in the second game while Makea-Al Kaluau homered and drove in four runs in the opener in sixth-ranked Lindsey Wilson’s doubleheader sweep, 9-2 and 7-0, over Cumberland in softball action here Wednesday at Billy Dee Ross Stadium.
The Phoenix (20-19, 6-14 Mid-South) posted five hits in both games against the Blue Raiders (38-2, 17-1) but hit their share of atom balls in both contests, line drives right at defenders or good defensive plays by LWC.
Lindsey Wilson scored three times in the first inning and Kaluau’s three-run homer capped a four-run third inning in the 9-2 victory. Kaluau posted four RBIs and Zakiya Sizemore and Kalli Harris each scored twice.
Hannah Epperson (12-1) picked up the win for LWC, giving up two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. Taylor Slade got the final eight outs, allowing no hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Emily Cooper (0-1) suffered the loss for CU, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 2.2 innings with four walks and one strikeout. Morgan Arndt struck out three and gave up one earned run on five hits in 4.1 innings of relief.
Ramirez (12-0) was the story in the second contest, keeping the Phoenix at bay with one walk and eight strikeouts in her seventh shutout of the year.
Tawnee Hegre singled and Tyra Graham walked for Cumberland in the third inning but that was the only frame with multiple runners. Four of the six baserunners stranded by the Phoenix were on second base. Hegre posted two of the team’s five hits.
Kayley Caplinger (7-8) threw well in the circle for CU but allowed six earned runs on eight hits. She walked five and struck out seven, leaving six Blue Raiders on base as well.
Callum Pilgrim walked to leadoff the opener and Sizemore chopped a single up the middle. Matlock singled sharply to right, scoring Pilgrim, and Matlock stole second. With one out Harris dumped a single down the leftfield line, plating a run, and Kaluau was fooled on a change-up but grounded to second, pushing across Matlock for a 3-0 LWC advantage after a half inning.
The Blue Raiders added to their lead in the third inning, starting with a one-out single by Jaydee Boursaw. Harris drew a walk and Kaluau drilled a line drive homer to left, extending the score to 6-0.
With two outs Samantha Luckett walked and Desiree Chang singled to center before an RBI single up the middle by Pilgrim for a 7-0 LWC lead.
Cumberland got on the board in the third when Graham singled down the rightfield line and stole second. She scored on Madison Woodruff’s soft single to leftcenter.
In the fourth Harris and Kaluau both singled to center with one out. Samantha Luckett’s two-out single to center plated Harris for the Blue Raiders.
Sizemore singled to right in the fifth inning and reached third when the ball got past Imani Torregano. Matlock followed with a sacrifice fly to leftcenter, pushing the lead to 9-1.
Graham singled with one out in the bottom of the inning and Woodruff blooped a single to leftcenter. Brigid Antonelli then singled sharply to center, scoring Graham and forcing a pitching change by Lindsey Wilson.
Paola Del Valle greeted Slade with a line drive to right and the Blue Raiders turned a doubleplay to end the inning, with Matlock throwing out Woodruff at the plate.
Lindsey Wilson wasted little time jumping on top in the second game, with Pilgrim collecting a leadoff double. Sizemore walked and both runners moved up on a passed ball before a soft liner off the glove of Caplinger turned into an RBI single for Matlock. With two outs Kaluau lined a three-run homer over the wall in centerfield for a 4-0 LWC advantage.
The Blue Raiders pushed two more runs across in the fifth after back-to-back doubles from Sizemore and Matlock to open the frame. Harris put down a bunt and the throw to first went off the glove of Kaylee Luckett and bounced away, allowing Matlock to come around, giving the visitors a 6-0 lead.
Matlock added a line drive homer to rightcenter to leadoff the seventh for LWC.
Cumberland travels to Georgetown College for a four-game series this weekend beginning Friday. Weather does not look encouraging so stay tuned to www.GoCumberlandAthletics.com for schedule changes.
