SB Weekend Preview: WBU vs Lindsey Wilson & Freed-Hardeman (Feb. 28 & Mar. 1)

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/27/25) – The Williams Baptist University softball team will play four games against Lindsey Wilson and Freed-Hardeman in the FHU Classic in Henderson, Tenn. on Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, Mar. 1.

SERIES INFORMATION

WILLIAMS EAGLES (6-0, 0-0 AMC) vs LINDSEY WILSON BLUE RAIDERS (3-5, 0-0 MSC)

GAME ONE - Friday, Feb. 28 - 12:00 p.m. CST - Tucker Field (Henderson, Tenn.)
Live video - https://gofhulions.com/sports/2023/8/9/lion-digital-network.aspx

GAME TWO - Friday, Feb. 28 - 2:00 p.m. CST - Tucker Field (Henderson, Tenn.)
Live video - https://gofhulions.com/sports/2023/8/9/lion-digital-network.aspx

WILLIAMS EAGLES (6-0, 0-0 AMC) vs (RV) FREED-HARDEMAN LIONS (0-3, 0-0 MSC)

GAME ONE - Friday, Feb. 28 - 12:00 p.m. CST - Tucker Field (Henderson, Tenn.)
Live video - https://gofhulions.com/sports/2023/8/9/lion-digital-network.aspx

GAME TWO - Friday, Feb. 28 - 2:00 p.m. CST - Tucker Field (Henderson, Tenn.)
Live video - https://gofhulions.com/sports/2023/8/9/lion-digital-network.aspx

MATCHUP FACTS VS LINDSEY WILSON

Last Game: First Meeting
Current Streak: None

MATCHUP FACTS VS FREED-HARDEMAN

Last Game: Mar. 26, 2024 (FHU 8-0)
Current Streak: FHU W4

WBU QUICK FACTS

2025 Record: 6-0 (0-0 AMC)
Current Streak: W6
2024 Record: 37-17 (14-4 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Jessica Nutt (6th)
HC Record: 110-108 (40-34 AMC)
Assistant Coach: Ashlie Dahl (4th)

ABOUT LINDSEY WILSON

2024-25 Record: 3-5 (0-0 SAA)
Current Streak: W2
2023-24 Record: 25-24 (9-15 MSC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Callum Pilgrim (3rd season)
Assistant Coach: Annabelle Ramirez-Sharber, Aleigha Talsma

ABOUT FREED-HARDEMAN

2024-25 Record: 0-3 (0-0 MSC)
Current Streak: L3
2023-24 Record: 31-18 (15-9 MSC)
2023-24 Postseason: Mid-South Conference Tournament Champions, Fell in the first round of the NAIA Softball National Tournament after losses to Houston-Victoria and Ottawa
Head Coach: Todd Humphrey (25th season)
Assistant Coach: Kaitlynn Lankford

LINDSEY WILSON NOTABLES

• Lindsey Wilson is coming off a doubleheader sweep at Union Commonwealth (Ky.) by the final scores of 9-1 and 16-2

• The Blue Raiders had four hits in the Season Opening Twinbill

• Brooklyn Becker batted 4-for-4 in the game against Georgia Gwinnett

• McKenna Ingram and Nora Epley also contributed two hits in the game against Georgia Gwinnett

• Another double was performed by Natalie Wandrie in the fourth inning against Georgia Gwinnett

• Lindsey Wilson came out with the win against Rio Grande ending with a score of 5-0

• In the sixth inning against Rio Grande Becker and Epley led off the frame with back-to-back singles 

• McKenna Ingram hit her first career home run in the game against Rio Grande

• Melaina Tucker batted 4-for-6 with a double against Coastal Georgia 

• During the game against Coastal Georgia a double steal was made by Tucker and Fowler which led Lindey to their first run

• Natalie Wandrie got her fifth career home run against Coastal Georgia

• Lindsey Wilson face off with Georgia Gwinnett once again starting off very strong on defense holding Gwinnett in the first 4 inning with 0 runs

• The Blue Raiders were the first on the board against Gwinnett with 1-0 in the second inning

• The Blue Raiders came out with 5 runs against Georgia Gwinnett 

• In the third inning Lindsey came out with 2 runs

• In overall hits Lindsey came out with the most over Georgia with 13

FREED-HARDEMAN NOTABLES

• The Lions had their season opener against Oregon Tech

• Gracie Wilson hit a single down the right field in the top of the third against Oregon Tech

• The Lions Game 2 was played against Southern Oregon

• Lions came out with 2 hits against Southern Oregon 

• Kiersten Mesler recorded their first base hit in the top of the third inning

• Myleah Hardy also put a run up on the board for the lions in the game against 

• Hardeman came out with 2 runs in this came and 7 hits 

• This was a double header also with Baker

• Against Baker the Lions held them at 5 hits at the ending while the Lions ended with 6

LAST TIME OUT

• WBU is coming off a two-game sweep over Hendrix on Tuesday, Feb. 25

• Williams won game one 10-0

• Williams won game two 3-2

• Ashlyn Michael opened the scoring with three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning

• Kaelyn Gooch also added a run into the inning along with Natalia Watkins

• Williams started with 4 runs in the first inning

• Williams added 5 runs in the second inning

• Williams also had 1 run in the 4 inning

• WBU won game two 3-2

• Jadyn Kobrin got the first run of the ballgame with a single in the bottom of the second

• The Eagles added two more in the third and two more in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead

• Williams shut out Hendrix through the first five innings

• The Warriors scored the game-tying run in the sixth, then scored the go-ahead run in the eighth

• Williams came in in the 8th inning to tie the game with a run

• Brianna McPike scored on a sacrifice pop-out to the second basemen to take the Eagles sixth-straight win

• The Eagles came out with 7 hits this game 

WBU NOTABLES

• Madyson Busselle and Natalia Watkins lead the team in AVG through four games, each with a .385 clip

• Busselle also leads the team with seven RBI's

• The Eagles sport a team batting average of .276 through the first four games

• Emberlin Caldwell leads the team in ERA with a 1.40, while Morgan Garner follows behind with a 2.33

• Caldwell leads with 18 strikeouts on the season, Garner trails with 11

• Williams returns the AMC Player of the Year and AMC Freshman of the Year in SS Madyson Busselle (Shoebottom) and RHP Emberlin Caldwell

• Five AMC All-Conference players return for WBU in Emberlin Caldwell, Madyson Busselle, Morgan Garner, Natalia Watkins, and Kaylee Wolfe

• Newcomers McKenna Bittle and Ashlyn Michael look to make immediate impacts in the lineup.  Bittle posted a 2.45 ERA in 126 innings for UA-Rich Mountain, and Michael led Van Buren High School in almost every offensive category as a senior.

• The Lady Eagles thrived at the plate last season with a .323 batting average as a team (T-3rd AMC)

• Madyson Shoebottom led the AMC with a .432 AVG.  Shoebottom also ranked third in RBI's with 51, and tied for fifth in home runs with 10.  Shoebottom only struck out five times.

• Pitching powered WBU to a successful season, as the Lady Eagles posted a 2.54 ERA as a staff (2nd AMC)

• Emberlin Caldwell led WBU with a 2.19 ERA last season (3rd AMC).  She led the conference with 19 wins in the circle, and struck out 142 batters (2nd AMC).

• Williams was picked to finish second in the AMC Preseason Coaches Poll

AMC PRESEASON POLL

1 Missouri Baptist (106)
2 Williams Baptist (99)
3 Central Baptist (89)
4 Columbia (86)
5 Cottey (85)
6 William Woods (70)
7 Stephens (54)
8 Crowley's Ridge (48)
9 UHSP (46)
10 Mission (41)
11 Hannibal-LaGrange (27)
12 Harris-Stowe (18)

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Next, Williams will travel to Branson, Mo. to take part in the Branson Grand Slam Classic.  The Lady Eagles will take on Our Lady of the Lake in the first game of the tournament at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 6.

• WBU's 2025 schedule features 22 home games at the WBU Softball Field.