The Lindenwood Lions baseball team started a crucial weekend series in St. Charles against the first place team in the HAAC, Culver-Stockton. In game one, the Lions jumped out to an early lead but the Wildcats came from behind and won 15-10. The second game was all Lindenwood as the Lions cruised to a 12-2 win.
The Lions got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first. After Adam Peacock and Mike Moore singled to lead-off the game Shelby Anderson grounded into a fielder's choice and moved Peacock to third. Crispin Torango then hit a fly ball to right field but not deep enough to score Peacock from third, but the Culver right fielder threw the ball to first base. The problem with that was there was nobody standing at first base. The error allowed Peacock to score and give the home team the early 1-0 lead.
Culver-Stockton came right back in the top of the second scoring three runs on two hits including a two-run home run. Lindenwood didn't take long to regain the lead. In the bottom of the second, the Lions sent 10 batters to the plate, connected on six hits, and scored six runs to take a 7-3 lead.
In the fourth, the Lions added two more runs. The fourth was capped off with a two-run triple by Zach Loraine, which gave the Lions the 9-3 lead. Culver cut into the lead in the fifth with three runs to trim the Lions advantage to 9-6.
The top of the sixth inning was all Culver. Trailing by three, the Wildcats scored four runs on just two hits to take a 10-9 lead. Culver-Stockton added five insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a commanding 15-9 lead. The Lions were able to add a run in the bottom of the seventh but fell 15-10.
Offensively in game one the Lions were led by Moore who went four for five with three RBIs and scored a run. Tarango chipped in with a pair of hits and four RBIs. Loraine also had a good game at the plate going three for four with two RBIs.
Zach Pearman started on the hill and went five innings while striking out six and surrendering six earned runs.
For the second straight game the Lions got on the scoreboard first. In the bottom of the first, Lindenwood brought across two runs to take an early 2-0 lead. The Lions added single tallies in the second and the third to take a 4-0 lead.
Culver chipped away at the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth. After Culver scored two runs to cut the lead two the Lions answered back with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth.
Lindenwood broke the game open in the fifth scoring five runs to extend the lead to 11-2. The Lions closed out the game in the bottom of the sixth after Peacock drove in Striegel to win the contest.
Peacock and Anderson both drove in three runs for the Lions in the second game. Peacock, Anderson, Moore, Tarango, Loraine, and Tellor all had two hits on the day.
Ryan Griffin started on the mound for the Lions and threw six innings, striking out one, and giving up just two earned runs.
After splitting the doubleheader the Lions record runs to 27-18 and their HAAC mark goes to 17-5. These two teams will play again on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at the Lou Brock Sports Complex.
