The Lindenwood softball team began the 2022 campaign with a pair of wins at the Music City Invitational on Friday afternoon. The Lions defeated Ferris State in the season opener, 6-0, before knocking off Kentucky Wesleyan, 6-4, in Smyrna, Tenn.
 
Friday's sweep marks the first wins for new head coach Erin Brown at the helm of the Lindenwood program.
 
GAME ONE OVERVIEW
After a scoreless first three innings, the Lions plated a crooked number in the fourth to open the floodgates. Following a leadoff walk by Karli Goocher, Megan Clark doubled to right center before Amanda Weyh chased her home with a single through the left side. Morgan Gersch kept the line moving with a triple to score Weyh.
 
The Lions added three more runs in the sixth on the heels of a single from Goocher that scored Taylor Bushman and Nicole Henson.
 
Adding to her 2-for-3 effort at the dish, Weyh was lights out on the rubber, shutting out the Bulldogs on just one hit. The junior struck out nine opponents, while inducing eight flyouts and three groundouts.
 
GAME ONE LEADERS
Weyh (W, 7.0, 9 K, 0 R)
Goocher (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB)
Gersch (2-for-3, 1 RBI)
 
GAME TWO OVERVIEW
The Lions spread six runs across five innings in the day's finale, including a tally in each of the first three frames. Bushman, who singled to open the contest, came around to score on a passed ball to give Lindenwood the early edge.
 
However, Kentucky Wesleyan pounced Lindenwood starter Brianna Macias for three runs on a pair of homers to lead 3-1 after the first. The Lions knotted the game at three apiece in the third off a run-scoring single from Weyh, with Emma Daniels driving home a run in the fifth.
 
Tied at four in the sixth, Whitney Wendel and Irelynn West gave the Lions the lead for good, each knocking in a run. Marina Esparza closed the door on the Panthers, allowing an unearned run and one hit in the final three innings.
 
GAME TWO LEADERS
Weyh (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB)
West (2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 2B)
 
QUOTABLE
"I'm so proud of our team efforts today," said Brown. "We had to really compete to come away with those wins against some gritty teams."
 
UP NEXT
The Lions continue the weekend's action on Saturday against Parkside and Tiffin in Smyrna. Follow along here.