The Lindenwood Lions baseball team started its home and conference portion of the schedule on Sunday afternoon against the Graceland Yellowjackets. Lindenwood won the opening game 4-1 and also won the second game 4-1.
In the opening game, the Lions got a strong performance on the hill by
Cory Trudell. The senior went seven innings giving up just two hits and striking out 11.
The Yellowjackets started the first inning with a double by Julio Godinez and then he came around after a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball. Godinez's double was the last hit Graceland recorded until the seventh inning.
Lindenwood tied the score in the second inning and then took the lead in the third with a single run. The Lions extended the lead in the fifth after
Adam Peacock doubled and
Crispin Tarango drove him in. Leading 3-1, the Lions added an insurance run in the sixth and recorded their first conference win.
Game two was much of the same. Zach Pearman started on the hill and gave the Lions seven strong innings. Pearman gave up just three hits and struck out six.
For the second consecutive game Graceland scored a run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Both pitchers were locked in until the Lions broke through in the fourth.
Mike Moore led off the inning with a single followed by an Anderson single. Tarango flew out to right field but both runners moved up.
Daniel Sandello grounded out but drove in a run, and then Anderson would come across after a wild pitch.
The Lions added a run in the fifth to give the home team a 4-1 lead. Pearman did the rest, and closed out his second consecutive complete game.
Anderson and Loraine led the way offensively in game two, each collecting two hits. Loraine, Sandello, and
Matt Tellor all drove in runs.
With the two wins the Lions improve their overall record to 9-10 and start the HAAC season 2-0. Up next for the Lions is a double-header at home on Wednesday afternoon against Benedictine University.
