The Lindenwood baseball team will travel to Edmond, Okla. to take on Central Oklahoma in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 3 p.m.
 
Last Week
The Lions rejuvenated the offense this past week by averaging over seven runs per game in five games played.  Lindenwood went 2-2 on the week after earning a mid-week victory over Missouri S&T, but dropped two games in a three-game series against Nebraska-Kearney.
 
On Tuesday, the Lions played host to Missouri S&T in a nine-inning affair that started with the Miners taking a 2-0 lead.  Lindenwood responded in the bottom of the first when Wes Degener and Drew Quinones crossed the plate to tie the game at 2-2.  Mike Ehrhard drove in Degener in the third inning to give Lindenwood the lead.  Zac Perkins scored to add to the lead, and Rayce Singbush drove in Quinones to give the Lions a 5-2 lead after three innings of play.  Andrew Eilers pitched a solid game as he went six innings and allowed two runs, both unearned.  The Miners tacked on two runs in the seventh inning to pull within one run, but Devin Breihan shut the door to earn his second save, and seal the win for Eilers.
 
Lindenwood hit the road to Kearney, Neb. for a three-game set against Nebraska-Kearney.  Nathan Prindle started the weekend with a solo shot in the first inning, and Ehrhard hit a solo bomb of his own to give the Lions a 2-0 lead right off the bat.  The Lopers wasted no time putting runs on the board, as they scored four runs in the second inning and one run in the third to take a 5-2 lead.  Ryan Sosnowski homered in the top of the four to cut the deficit to two runs, but the Lopers took off.  Nebraska-Kearney scored one run in the bottom of the fourth and five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a commanding 11-3 lead.  The Lions picked up two runs in the next two innings, but the Lopers closed out the game with a four-run seventh inning to take game one by a final of 15-5.
 
In the second game, it was Lindenwood that scored in bunches, and it began in the first inning with a Quinones single to center that scored Degener.  Prindle hit his second homer in as many days, this one a three-run shot to put the Lions up 4-0 after two innings.  Lindenwood registered a big fourth inning that included a three-run home run by Kyle Teter.  The Lions scored nine runs in the fourth, added one in the ninth, and saw a great pitching performance by Geoff Hartlieb.  Hartlieb threw seven innings, tallied seven strikeouts, and allowed just one run on four hits to earn his first win of the season.
 
The final game of the series was undoubtedly the most exciting one, as it consisted of 27 hits, 27 runs, and it took 11 innings to determine a winner.  The Lopers took an early 3-0 lead, but the Lions clawed back to a 5-3 lead after a five-run second inning.  Lindenwood scored a run in the third, fourth, and added two runs the fifth to take a commanding 9-3 lead. Nebraska-Kearney fought back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Lindenwood lead down to just four.  As the Lindenwood offense slowed, the Nebraska-Kearney offense took off.  The Lopers scored two runs in the seventh, three in the eight, and one run in the ninth to tie the game at 11-11 to force extra innings.  Lindenwood scored two runs in the top of the 11th, but the Lopers found life in the bottom of the inning with three runs to take game three 14-13.
 
Head Coach Doug Bletcher understands the level of play his team is up against in one of the toughest conferences in Division II.
 
"It was a tough series against Nebraska Kearney, though most typical of any weekend MIAA play, in which it is a week after week splendid grind. It is what we signed up for and more," said Bletcher.  Bletcher touched on playing a full nine innings, "We have to discipline ourselves to finish strong, not only physically but mentally. We didn't quite do that against Kearney but overall we are getting there and starting to see the blueprint of just how wide ranging and all-encompassing that concept of disciplining ourselves is."  Bletcher noted, "The Lions had several more players step up and makes statements this past weekend which gives us more options for down the road."
 
On The Season
Ehrhard is leading the squad with a .415 batting average (22-for-53), and has driven in 17 runs, hit four home runs, with five doubles, and scored 12 times.  Quinones is leading the team with 27 hits, and has a team-high 22 RBI.  Quinones has hit four doubles, two triples, and three home runs, while Prindle has hit four doubles with six homeruns.
 
Eilers is leading the team with a 3.18 ERA in 11.1 innings pitched, and has compiled a 2-0 record in two games started.  Connor Law has pitched a team-high 26.0 innings, has 25 strikeouts, and has a 3-1 record in five starts.
 
This Week in Lindenwood Baseball
3/18/16 – Central Oklahoma at Wendell Simmons Field in Edmond, Okla. – 3 p.m.
3/19/16 – Central Oklahoma at Wendell Simmons Field in Edmond, Okla. – 1 p.m.
3/20/16 – Central Oklahoma at Wendell Simmons Field in Edmond, Okla. – 12 p.m.
 
Lindenwood will take on Central Oklahoma on Friday at 3 p.m. to begin a three-game stint in Edmond, Okla.  The Lions defeated the Bronchos 3-1 in a four-game series last season.  Central Oklahoma opened up the weekend with a 16-3 win over Lindenwood, but the Lions took the following three games in Edmond, Okla.
 
Ehrhard and Michael Bibbs each hit a home run in game one, while Quinones legged out a double.  In game two, the pitching staff was nails, as Law tossed 2.2 innings in relief as he tallied seven strikeouts, and allowed just two hits.  Breihan threw three innings out of the pen, allowed four hits, and held the Bronchos scoreless to earn the victory.  Ehrhard homered in game two as well, and Degener drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th to help Lindenwood to a 3-2 win.
 
The Lions continued to play tough, as game two was led by Brendan Kleekamp who toss a seven-inning complete game, with just two runs allowed on five hits, and compiled four strikeouts.  Vince Saladino hit a home run, while Perkins had a double and a triple, and Degener and Prindle registered doubles to help the Lions to a 7-2 victory in game three.  Lindenwood capped off the weekend with a 16-8 win in game four with the help of five home runs, and seven doubles as a team.  Prindle had one home run on the day with three RBI, while Quinones registered two home runs, and one double.  Breihan added another victory to his record after tossing two scoreless innings.
 
Bletcher stressed the importance of staying focused and ready in every game in the MIAA.
 
"We will need to apply that discipline against Central Oklahoma this weekend. The games are in Edmond, Oklahoma where UCO has always been tough," stated Bletcher.  "I am sure we can count on three tough, hard fought games from the first pitch to the last," said Bletcher.
 
MIAA Players of the Week
Feb 1-7 Hitter of the Week - Andrew Vogelbaugh - Pittsburg State
Feb 1-7 Pitcher of the Week - Nathan Gieber - Emporia State
Feb 8-14 Co-Hitter of the Week - Joe Mapes - Fort Hays State
Feb 8-14 Co-Hitter of the Week - Joe Paulino - Missouri Southern
Feb 8-14 Pitcher of the Week – Peyton Walker - Missouri Southern
Feb 15-21 Co-Hitter of the Week - Andrew Vogelbaugh - Pittsburg State
Feb 15-21 Co-Hitter of the Week – Jesse Rall - Missouri Southern
Feb 15-21 Pitcher of the Week –Zach Litchen - Missouri Southern
Feb 22-28 Co-Hitter of the Week – Evan Koehler – Emporia State
Feb 22-28 Co-Pitcher of the Week – Ethan Westphal – Central Missouri
Feb 22-28 Co-Pitcher of the Week – Zach Parish – Northeastern State
Feb 22-28 Co-Pitcher of the Week – Nick Silva – Washburn
Feb 29-Mar 6 Hitter of the Week – Evan Koehler – Emporia State
Feb 29-Mar 6 Pitcher of the Week – Ethan Westphal – Central Missouri
*MIAA Players of the Week will be announced each Tuesday afternoon at TheMIAA.com
**National Rankings will be released each Tuesday at NCAA.org
 
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