GAME OVERVIEW
The Lindenwood baseball team (13-14, 7-6 MIAA) scored in the bottom of the eighth inning which led to a 9-3 win over Missouri Western (10-10, 8-5 MIAA) on Friday night at Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.
 
The Griffons opened the game with a home run on the very first pitch, but DJ Miller responded with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the first to tie the game.  Bryce Beckmann put the Lions in front with an-RBI triple down the left field line in the second inning.  Missouri Western tied the game in the top of the third to make it 2-2.  Kolby Schulte opened the bottom of the fifth with a triple to right center and scored two batters later, making it a one-run lead for the Lions.
 
The Griffons again tied the game in the top of the sixth, but Eric Hipp stopped the bleeding.  With two runners on and one out, Hipp struck out the next two batters looking to keep it a 3-3 tie game.  Calvin Nowak drove in Ryan Venne on a double down the right field line to make it 4-3 in favor of the Lions.  Again the Lions were in a jam, but with one out and two runners in scoring position, Hipp got the Griffons to line into a double play to end the inning.
 
Lindenwood poured on the runs in the bottom of the eighth as the Lions had six-consecutive baserunners to start the inning.  In that span, the Lions scored four runs on four hits and two walks.  Lindenwood added another run and relied on Michael Cessna to close out the 9-3 win, earning his third save of the year.
 
GAME LEADERS
DJ Miller (1-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 BB)
Bryce Beckmann (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 BB)
Kolby Schulte (2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 3B)
 
UP NEXT
The Lions will continue their series with The Griffons on Saturday for a 3 p.m. start at Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.