The Lindenwood baseball team (9-0, 5-0 GLVC) took the first game of the series over Drury on Friday, winning by a final of 9-7 in Ozark, Mo.
 
GAME OVERVIEW
The Lions took some time to get the offense rolling, but Lindenwood did some damage with two outs in the top of the fourth.  Beau Collier drove in the first run of the game on a single to bring in Bryce Beckmann.  Calvin Nowak took advantage of a passed ball to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.  The Lions again rallied with two outs in the following inning.  Alex Canty drove in a pair of runs on a double to make it 4-0.  Nowak scored on another RBI-single by Collier, giving Lindenwood a five-run advantage.
 
Drury scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Lions answered with runs yet again.  Austin Schmitt led off the inning with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball, and later scored on a groundout.  Beckmann drove in the seventh run of the game on an-RBI single to make it a 7-1 lead for the Lions.  The Panthers did not go away quietly, as Drury notched five runs on four hits and one error in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Lindenwood stayed hot at the dish, which started with patience at the plate by Alex Gauspohl.  The Lions took advantage of miscues in the field by the Panthers to add another run.  Kolby Schulte drove in the final run for the Lions on an-RBI double.  Niko Marshall pitched the final 2.1 innings to help secure the 9-7 victory in the series opener.
 
GAME LEADERS
Bryce Beckmann (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 BB)
Kolby Schulte (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB)
Beau Collier (2-for-5, 2 RBI)
 
UP NEXT
Lindenwood will continue its series with Drury on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. in Ozark, Mo.