The Lindenwood baseball team won its opening game of the MIAA Tournament on Thursday in Joplin, Mo. The Lions advanced in the winner's bracket with a 13-3 victory over Southwest Baptist.
Â
A well-timed weather delay helped changed momentum in the game. The Bearcats collected five hits and three runs in their first two innings batting, and they led 3-2 when lightening forced a delay before the bottom of the second.
Â
After the delay, Lindenwood starter
Brendan Feldmann was nearly unhittable against one of the MIAA's top offensive teams. He retired the next 13 batters he faced, and ended up allowing no runs and just three hits in his final six innings. Only one runner reached second base in that span, but two straight pop outs in the seventh inning ended the Bearcats' final offensive threat.
Â
Feldmann's performance helped the Lions stay close until the offense came to life late in the game. After tying the game in the fourth, Lindenwood exploded with four runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, and four in the eighth. The final runs in the eighth ended the game by the 10-run rule.
Â
Lindenwood finished the game with 15 hits, including three doubles, and it had over a .500 on-base percentage. Seven of the Lions had at least one hit, and eight of the nine batters crossed the plate at least once.
Â
Rayce Singbush led the team with three RBI, including a sac bunt in the sixth inning that turned out to be the game-winning RBI.
Wes Degener,
Tyler Muehling, and
Drew Quinones all had two RBI.
Conor Behrens led the team with three runs, and Degener, Muehling, and
Kyle Teter each had two runs. Teter led the team with four hits, and Degener and Behrens had three hits apiece.
Â
Lindenwood improves to 32-17 on the season with the victory. The Lions will face the winner of Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri on Friday. That game is currently scheduled for 4 p.m.
Â
Â
