It took almost five days but the Lindenwood Lions and the Culver-Stockton Wildcats finally finished the first of back-to-back doubleheaders in Canton, Mo. on Wednesday afternoon. The Lions would win game one, 9-5, and game two, 11-9.
The opening game of the series actually began last Saturday but was postponed in the fourth inning with the Lions leading 7-0 due to rain. When the game resumed Wednesday afternoon, the Lions would tack on two more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Culver-Stockton was able to cut into the lead in the sixth with a pair of runs. The Wildcats also mustered two runs in the seventh inning but couldn't come back from a big deficit and fell at home, 9-5.
Evan Vinyard started the game last Saturday but freshman Andy Tretter would finish the game on Wednesday pitching the final four innings surrendering five runs on seven hits. Tretter was awarded the win to improve his record to 6-1.
Zach Malawey and Casey Colbert led the way for the Lions at the plate each going 2-for-4 while Malawey added a RBI. Frank Corpus, Randy Serrato pitched in with two RBIs each.
The Lions used two big innings in game two to sweep the doubleheader. Lindenwood would win the game 11-9.
Culver-Stockton jumped out to 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning but the Lions came right back with a single run in the third to tie the score.
The fourth inning was the first of the two big innings when seven Lions crossed home plate. With the Lions leading 8-2 they would tack on another three runs in the sixth to extended the lead to 11-2. But the Wildcats wouldn't go away, they would answer with a seven run inning of their own to cut the lead to two. That would be as close as they would get falling in game two, 11-9.
After starting the opening game in right field, Malawey began the second game on the hill. The junior would win his team leading ninth game of the year going five innings and striking out seven. Bryant Hollingsworth would pitch the sixth and Joey Vega would throw the seventh and record his sixth save of the season.
Every Lions' starter recorded at least one hit led by Bryce Holland who was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBIs. Dylan Lowery finished the game 2-for-3 including his first home run of the season.
The Lions (37-13, 19-7) and the Wildcats will play two more games Thursday afternoon in Canton, Mo.to close out Lindenwood's regular season portion of its schedule.
