The Lindenwood baseball team (7-11, 2-4 MIAA) lost two close games on Friday to Emporia State (6-6, 3-0 MIAA) by finals of 4-3 and 6-5 in Emporia, Kan.
 
GAME ONE OVERVIEW
The Hornets took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.  Emporia State took advantage of a swinging strikeout that forced a throw to first base, allowing the runner on third to score.  Neil Fischer tied the game in the top of the fourth as he drove in DJ Miller.  Emporia State scored a run in the bottom of the fourth, and another in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.
 
In the seventh inning, Brennan Fitzpatrick hit a double with two outs down the left field line.  Calvin Nowak kept the inning alive with a single through the left side, placing runners at the corners.  Fitzpatrick scored on the next at bat after Kolby Schulte singled to right field, pulling the Lions within one run.  The Lions drew back-to-back walks, allowing the tying run to cross the plate and make it a 3-3 ballgame.  The Hornets took advantage of two passed balls in the bottom of the ninth to win 4-3 in the first game.
 
GAME ONE LEADERS
Kolby Schulte (2-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI)
DJ Miller (1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB)
Kyle Hentis (8.0 IP, 6 K, 2 ER, 6 H)
 
GAME TWO OVERVIEW
Blake Beckmann was on a mission in game two as he registered 10 strikeouts in his seven innings of work.  Beckmann allowed just one run on six hits and left the game with a four-run lead.  Emporia State again jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Lions responded in the top of the third.  Fitzpatrick opened up the top of the inning with a double down the left field line, and later scored on a single by Schulte.
 
The Lions took the lead in the top of the fifth with a sacrifice fly by Schulte.  DJ Miller singled through the left side to bring in Fitzpatrick to make it a 3-1 lead for the Lions.  Lindenwood added to the lead in the top of the sixth as Ryan Venne put the ball on the right side of the infield to bring in Fischer.  Miller tallied his second RBI of the game on a single to center that allowed Schulte to score and make it 5-1.  The Lions saw their four-run lead diminish in the ninth inning, as the Hornets rallied for five runs on five hits and one error in the 6-5 comeback win over Lindenwood.
 
GAME TWO LEADERS
Blake Beckmann (7.0 IP, 10 K, 1 ER, 6 H)
DJ Miller (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 1 HBP)
Brennan Fitzpatrick (2-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB)
 
UP NEXT
The Lions will return to Lou Brock Sports Complex on Friday, March 8 to open a three-game series with Pittsburg State starting at 6 p.m. in St. Charles, Mo.