With four one-run games, three comebacks, two extra-inning decisions, and as the early morning dust settled at the South Commons Softball Complex, Lindsey Wilson was the last one standing this weekend in Columbus, Ga.
With former Auburn and Logan County Lady Cougar teammates Emerson McKinnis and Nora Epley playing big roles, the Blue Raiders defeated (RV) Mobile (Ala.) 2-1 to win their sixth straight and the NFCA-NAIA Leadoff Classic.
From McCutchen-Coke Park in Auburn to the LCHS softball field and basketball court and lots off-season teams, the duo spent last spring apart while McKinnis was playing Division I softball at Murray State.
She wasn’t happy there and transferred to Lindsey Wilson University where Epley had a super season as a freshman playing for the Blue Raiders.
They started all 14 games for LWU in February, and their team is now 12-2 even though they’ve played only four games at their Columbia, Ky. home field.
The first game of the season presented a preview of what this dynamic duo can do. These were the first two paragraphs on the first LWU press release of the 2026 season:
“Emerson McKinnis hit two home runs and the Lindsey Wilson pitching staff combined for 20 strikeouts as the Blue Raiders won a pair on opening day.
At the plate, McKinnis led the offense with five hits in six at-bats, Nora Epley drove in three runs on three hits, and Marissa Frolich added two RBIs.
So far this season, Emerson McKinnis has been the starting catcher in every game. She is batting .426 and 4 of her 20 hits have been home runs. She’s walked 5 times and been hit by 3 pitches. They don’t use a courtesy runner for her, resulting in her scoring 14 runs. She’s had 6 multiple-hit games, with 3 hits twice.
Even more impressive are her defensive statistics. She’s had what is termed 72 ‘chances.’ They’ve resulted in 70 putouts and 2 hits. That, too, equals 72. As a result, her fielding percentage is 1.000!
Nora Epley has also started all 14 games in the middle infield. She’s batting .244 with 11 hits including a double, and she has walked 7 times while being successful on all 3 of her stolen base attempts. She has 6 RBIs and has only struck out once. She has scored 9 runs.
On defense, she has 27 putouts and 13 assists with just 4 errors on 44 chances for a .909 fielding percentage.
Lindsey Wilson is due back on the field next weekend, March 6-8, in Gulf Shores, Ala. for the 2026 Gulf Shores Invitational. That will be the Blue Raiders’ final non-conference road trip of the season.