The Lindenwood softball team tied the game at two apiece in the fourth, but a six-run fifth inning for Illinois-Springfield on Tuesday afternoon was enough to take down the Lady Lions, 8-2, from Lou Brock Sports Complex.
Stormee Galka was hit with her seventh loss of the season, and dropped to 5-7 overall. The southpaw surrendered eight runs on the day, but only four were earned, while striking out three hitters in her five innings innings of work. Junior
Bethany Fountain came in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair in her two innings of work.
Adele Linderman received the first start in center field of her career, and made the most of it at the plate leading the team with a 3-for-3 performance. The junior also scored one of Lindenwood's two runs.
Morgan Brown,
Brooke Tiehes, and
Lexi Theis each had one hits on the day, while
Keri Sheehan knocked in both runs.
The Prairie Stars led off the second inning with consecutive singles before moving into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt. Another single drove in both runs as the visitors gained the early 2-0 advantage. Galka retired six of the next seven hitters to quiet the UIS bats.
Lindenwood evened the game in its half of the fourth inning, all with two outs. After a pair of groundouts, Tiehes, Linderman, and Theis all singled to load the bases for Sheehan. The freshman hit a grounder to the shortstop, who was unable to make the throw to second base after the diving stop. Tiehes and Linderman came around to score to tie the game 2-2.
Illinois-Springfield rallied back immediately in the top of the fifth inning, putting a crooked number on the scoreboard. Galka allowed six hits, including three extra-base knocks, in the inning for a total of six runs to make the score 8-2, a lead the Prairie Stars would never relinquish. Linderman had the only hit in the final three innings for the Lady Lions.
The loss is the fifth in a row for Lindenwood as it falls to 9-14 on the season. The Lady Lions will seek their first conference victory against Nebraska-Kearney tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. for a doubleheader at Lou Brock Sports Complex.
