Story by Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information
Pictures courtesy of Rick Dominowski, Click HERE to order

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – (Box Score) Andrea Whelan compiled five RBIs, including three on a home run in the eighth inning, to lift No. 3 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) to a 9-5, extra-inning victory over top-seed LSU Alexandria (La.) Tuesday night at the 35th Annual NAIA Softball World Series, presented by Security National Bank and Morningside College. In two previous World Series games, Whelan was 1-for-7 at the plate. But she delivered in the clutch tonight with three hits and two runs scored.

Lindsey Wilson stays alive in the elimination bracket and plays Wednesday at 4 p.m. CDT against No. 7 Oregon Tech. The Blue Raiders advance to the final four for the first time in their World Series history (in fifth appearance).

With a 1-2 World Series record, LSU Alexandria is eliminated and ends the year with a 51-5 record.

The Lindsey Wilson offense set the table for Whelan in the eighth inning with a single and a walk. With one out, Whelan sent a 1-2 pitch from Generals reliever Marci West over the 10-foot fence in right-center field. The three-run blast was Whelan’s 14th of the year, but her first since April 17 against Cumberlands (Ky.) – a span of 15 games.

The game started off with a bang as the teams combined to score 10 runs in the first two innings.

Lindsey Wilson batted around in the top of the first to notch three runs. RBI-singles from Whelan and Amanda Trampe preceded a RBI-double off the bat of Travatia Bowden for the offensive highlights in the inning.

In the next frame, Whelan came through again with a run-scoring single. Chelsea Showers touched home on a stolen base and Lindsey Wilson seemed headed for a blow-out win with a 5-0 lead after two innings.

The top-seeded Generals had different thoughts on the offensive side. LSU Alexandria entered the day ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in runs scored (9.9), hits (11.9) and batting average (.430). When the dust settled after the second inning, LSU Alexandria got five runs on five hits and one error – all with two outs.

Taylor Simon got the big hit, a two-RBI single, to plate Paulean Gonzalez and Brooke Thomas. After a Julinn Torres single drove in the fifth run, the game was tied at 5-5.

From that point until the decisive eighth inning, Lindsey Wilson pitcher Jordan Hood and her counterpart West settled into a groove. From the third-through-seventh innings, no base runner advanced past second base. West allowed just two doubles during that span and Hood gave up six total hits.

Hood earned the victory in the circle improving to 18-2 on the year. She gave up a total of seven hits in 6 1/3 innings of relief. She struck out six Generals.

West fell to 21-2 on the year. She allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in seven innings of relief. She also fanned six batters.

In addition to Whelan’s offense, Showers, Trampe and Bowden finished the night with two hits apiece for the Blue Raiders.

LSU Alexandria held a 13-10 hits advantage, but only one was of the extra-base variety in the form of a double.

Julinn Torres led the way for the Generals with a 4-for-4 effort. She finishes her World Series with a .545 batting average (6-for-11) and two RBIs. Brooke Thomas posted three hits and Taylor Simon went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video-streaming company of 17 select NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting all 19 games of the 2015 NAIA Softball World Series. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $20. For more information, including how to register for an account, click here.

The double-elimination event is being played out at the Elizabeth & Irving Jensen Softball Complex. The City of Sioux City and Morningside College serve as official hosts for the first time. For more information on the 2015 NAIA Softball World Series, click here.