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

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – (Box Score) Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) used a fast start for the third-straight game to propel the third-seeded team to a 5-3 victory over No. 9 Concordia (Ore.), 5-3, Wednesday night at the 35th Annual NAIA Softball World Series, presented by Security National Bank and Morningside College. In the last three World Series games – all wins – the Blue Raiders have scored 15 combined runs in their first two innings. Tonight, Lindsey Wilson plated a pair in the second inning and raced out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth.

Lindsey Wilson advances to its first-ever World Series championship final and plays Thursday at 5 p.m. CDT against defending national champion No. 2 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.). Coming from the elimination bracket, Lindsey Wilson needs two wins to secure a title, while Auburn Montgomery needs one win.

With a 3-2 World Series record, Concordia is eliminated and ends the year with a 46-19 record.

The fast start is something that Lindsey Wilson coach David Dews has said has been a focus for the club.

“Our main thing was that we knew we were going to see adversity with the heat and against good competition. We just had our mindset that we were going to fight through it and keep on working and grind it out. We tried to keep our energy up and getting those runs early really helped.”

Sydney Fourman was the early offensive catalyst with a two-run home run in the second inning. That blast was the team’s fifth of the World Series. In the Lindsey Wilson third inning, two singles opened up the frame followed by a RBI-single from Bailey Mize. At that point, the score was 3-0 in favor of the Blue Raiders.

Amanda Trampe continued her hitting in the clutch with a two-RBI double in the fourth inning to plate Jenna Firestein and Chelsea Showers. In the last three games, Trampe has now compiled seven RBIs and stands with nine total in five World Series contests.

Pitching with a 5-0 lead, Lindsey Wilson starting pitcher Jordan Hood held strong for the 7.0-inning complete game victory. She finished her day tossing 14.0 innings, recording seven strikeouts and allowing four runs (two earned) in notching both Blue Raider wins.

“She is resilient,” said Dews. “She threw every strike, every ball, every inning today. She is a great kid. She told me she wanted the ball and we gave it to her and we went with it.”

Concordia struck for two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on a Lindsey Wilson miscue. Mariah Jimenez singled to left with two outs and the ball skipped under the glove of the leftfielder and rolled all the way to the fence. Kate Santos scored from second and was followed home by Taylor Copher.

Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the Cavaliers’ put the pressure on with a RBI-single by Kelsie Merritt. But like she has done all World Series long, Hood got the final two outs without any more damage to improve to 20-2 on the season.

Mattie Boucher was struck with the loss for Concordia as she went 4.0 innings and allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks.

Firestein and Andrew Whelan each collected a pair of hits for the Blue Raiders.

For Concordia, Meghan Luebbert went 3-for-4 and Merritt was 2-for-4 at the dish.

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.