The Lindenwood softball team was swept in its conference opener doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at the Lou Brock Sports Complex. The Lady Lions fell to Evangel, last year's HAAC Champions, by scores of 7-3 and 4-2.

The turning point in the first game came in the bottom of the third inning. Lindenwood entered the inning trailing 3-0 but scored one run and had two on with no one. The next batter hit into a double play which essentially ended the Lady Lions' threat. Evangel took the momentum and added three more runs in the fourth and went on to win by four runs.

Caitlin Diesen led the offense by going two-for-two with one run. Miranda Schlosser had a run and RBI, Sophie Berman scored once, and Samantha Van Pelt had a RBI.

Aubrey Moss allowed all seven runs, but only three were earned. She struck out five but also walked five and allowed 10 hits.

Game two saw fireworks early on. In the first inning, the Crusaders plated three on a three-run homer. Lindenwood got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning when Jessica Long hit a two-run homer, scoring Van Pelt.

Both pitchers settled down after that and the only other score was an insurance run by Evangel in the seventh. Twice, Lindenwood got two runners on base with two outs, but both times it could not deliver a clutch two-out hit.

Van Pelt had two of Lindenwood's four hits in the second game. Rebecca Peddicord took the loss, allowing 10 hits, two walks, and four earned runs. She struck out three Crusaders.

Lindenwood returns to conference action immediately, hosting Baker on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Lou Brock Sports Complex.