Complete game notes in .pdf format here

Storyline
The Lindenwood baseball team ended its regular season with an overall record of 38-14 and a conference mark of 20-8 and earned a share for the conference regular season title. This was the third consecutive year the Lions have at least earned a share of first place.

Up next is the HAAC postseason tournament where the Lions will hold the No. 2 seed. The Lions come into the tournament as the defending tournament champs and with another title this year they will earn an automatic bid into the national tournament.
              
Last Week's Results
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.

The Lions used two big innings in game two to win the second 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. Culver would get within two but would fall, 11-9.

In the third game of the series the Lions jump out to a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. But the bottom of the inning was all Wildcats as the home team would bring across five runs to take a 5-3 lead.

Lindenwood would threaten in the sixth inning, loading the bases for Zach Malawey but the threat would end as he would line out to first base.  The Lions would go in order in the seventh and fall to Culver-Stockton, 5-3.

In the final game of the series, the Lions would jump out early as the visitors scored four in the first and three in the third to take a 7-0 lead. The offense wasn't done as it would score two more in the fourth and another in the fifth to take a 10-1 lead. The Wildcats would muster two runs in the sixth inning but would fall to the Lions, 10-3.

2010 HAAC Tournament
This year's edition of the HAAC tournament  will take place in St. Joseph, Mo. beginning on May 5th and concluding on May 8th. Three teams from the east division (Lindenwood, Missouri Valley and Evangel) and three teams from the west (MidAmerica, Avila and William Jewell) will make up the field. The William Jewell Cardinals are the top seed followed by Lindenwood, Avila, Missouri Valley, MidAmerica and Evangel.

Tournament Champs
A season ago the Lions were crowned the tournament champs after beating William Jewell in the bottom of the ninth via a two-run home run. The 2009 tournament was held in Fayette, Mo. on the campus of Central Methodist. 

Closing The Lead
When the Lions hold the lead after the sixth inning they don't give it up too often. In 39 games when leading after six the Lions have only lost two games and hold a record of 37-2.

Going The Distance
This season the team has 10 complete games. Zach Malawey leads the team with five, while Evan Vinyard, Randy Serrato each have two and Andy Tretter has one. A year ago the Lions compiled nine complete games.

Scoring First
Getting on the scoreboard early has been very advantageous for the Lions. When they score a run in the first inning the team is 20-3 and when they score the first run of the game they are 30-6.

Shelby The Leader
Shelby Anderson has been an offensive threat all year and continues to the lead the Lions in numerous categories. The junior from Quincy, Illinois is number one on the team in home runs (11), RBIs (45), runs scored (45), games played (52), at-bats (166), hits (60) and total bases (104).

Streaking
Currently, Carlos Pianetta is in the midst of a eight game hitting streak but it is not his longest of the season. Earlier this year he compiled a 10 game streak.            

Shelby Anderson has the longest streak of the season with a 14 game hitting streak.

Top Pitching Staff
The Lions' pitching staff has been one of the strongest assets of this years squad. Lion pitchers are ranked first in the HAAC in numerous pitching categories. They are first in hits allowed per game (6.7), runs scored per game (4.13), opponent batting average (.258), total strikeouts (334) and ERA (3.48).

Errorless Baseball
When the team has committed one or no errors they are 30-5. On the contrary if they commit two or more they have a record of 8-9.

The Ace
Even though the Lions' pitching staff has been dominate this year one starter has stepped to the front of the rotation. Evan Vinyard has been dominating opponents all season. The junior leads the HAAC in ERA (2.85) opponents batting average (.225), innings pitched (75), strikeouts (103), and wins (9).

Dual Threats
Not only have Randy Serrato and Zach Malawey been strong on the hill but the two have been huge threats at the plate. Malawey is hitting .333 and has hit six home runs with 18 RBIs. Serrato, though he has not had as many at-bats, is hitting .394 (13-for-33).

The Longball
If the Lions hit a home run that usually means one thing, a win. When the offense hits a longball the team is 19-2. The Lions have a total of 35 bombs compared to the opponents 20.

Up Next
After the HAAC tournament it is time for the NAIA National Championship tournament.