The Lindenwood baseball team lost the first game of the weekend series against Emporia State by a final of 7-2 on Friday night at the Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.
 
Game Overview: Emporia State 7, Lindenwood 2
Emporia State quickly took hold of the game with five runs in the top of the second inning.  The Hornets picked up two runs before hitting a three-run home run to take a 5-0 lead.  Vince Saladino put the Lions on the board with a solo shot to left center, making it a 5-1 ballgame after three innings..  Blake Beckmann did not allow another hit in his next three innings of work as he went five innings with four strikeouts.
 
The Hornets extended their lead to 7-1 after a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to make the hill larger to climb for the Lions.  After collecting his 300th-career hit, Wes Degener came around to score on a Drew Quinones single to make it 7-2 after eight innings.  Marshall Shill pitched three innings in relief and allowed two runs but struck out six batters.  The Lions pressed in the ninth inning, but could not comeback from the five-run deficit.
 
Game Leaders
Drew Quinones (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 3B, 1 HBP)
Brett Andersen (2-for-4, 1 2B)
Vince Saladino (1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR, 2 HBP)
 
Up Next
Lindenwood falls to 25-23 on the season and 15-19 in the MIAA while Emporia State improves to 28-19 on the year and 19-15 in conference play.  The Lions will take on the Hornets at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.