The Lindenwood softball team (15-3, 2-0 GLVC) opened its GLVC slate with a pair of wins on Sunday afternoon from Lou Brock Sports Complex, earning two one-run victories against Illinois Springfield (14-6, 0-2 GLVC) to up its win streak to nine.
 
After Amanda Weyh smoked a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth in the day's opener to give the Lions a 2-1 win, Marina Esparza tossed her second straight complete-game shutout as Lindenwood squeaked by the Prairie Stars, 1-0.
 
GAME ONE OVERVIEW
Weyh worked around some trouble on Sunday, before shutting down the final eight hitters and finishing with seven strikeouts in the extra-inning win. The junior also provided the game-winning run from the dish, following Whitney Wendel's double with a two-bagger of her own to lift the Lions to victory.
 
The Lions' offense took awhile to get going in game one, with Whitney Kinser tallying the first knock of the afternoon with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Lindenwood plated its first run in the bottom of the fifth, as Megan Clark lined a single to right field to chase home Irelynn West to even the score at one apiece.
 
Wendel would come around to score to win the game for the Lions in the ninth, as she set up the game-winner with her second hit of the contest.
 
GAME ONE LEADERS
Weyh (9.0 IP, 7 K, 1-for-3, 2B, RBI)
Wendel (2-for-4, 2B, R)
 
GAME TWO OVERVIEW
It was yet another pitchers' duel in the finale, with Esparza coming out on top with 11 strikeouts to blank to Prairie Stars. The Mokena, Ill., product also went the distance in her last start, which came on March 4 against Parkside.
 
It was Weyh and Wendel who did the damage at the dish once again for the Lions. After Nicole Henson and Kinser led off the frame with singles, Wendel drilled a hard grounder to shortstop, resulting in a double play. Weyh wasted no time, however, sending a 1-0 offering to left-center field to score Wendel for what proved to be the game-winning run.
 
Esparza only recorded two clean innings in the win, but added seven groundouts to her 11 strikeouts to limit the Prairie Stars' offense in threatening situations.
 
GAME TWO LEADERS
Kinser (2-for-2, BB)
Weyh (1-for-3, 3B, RBI)
Wendel (1-for-3, R)
West (1-for-3, 2B)
 
NOTABLE
- The Lions' nine-game win streak is their best run since April 2019 when the team strung together 10 straight victories.
- Sunday's wins mark the first victories at home against Illinois Springfield since April 8, 2015.
- Clark saw her modest six-game hitting streak come to a close in Sunday's finale. However, the graduate student did improve her reached-base streak to seven after being hit by a pitch in sixth inning of game two.
- Wendel now has seven multi-hit contests this spring, including four games with two knocks.
- Kinser now sports a team-best .938 OPS and is one of four Lions with double-digit RBI totals.
 
QUOTABLE
Esparza: "You always have those jitters the first day of conference play, but I knew I could rely on my team behind me. The biggest thing for me was getting ahead so I could set the hitters up. Morgan Gersch did a great job calling a game that allowed us to be successful with those off-speed pitches.
 
"Amanda is always lights out and we know she always gives 110 percent. I think this program is just so lucky to have her."
 
UP NEXT
The Lions have a quick turnaround when Quincy (4-11) visits St. Charles for a league twin bill. The doubleheader, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 12, in Quincy, Ill., was moved to Lou Brock Sports Complex due to weather concerns.