The Lindenwood softball team (23-3, 10-0 GLVC) powered its way to another league doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon, shutting out host Southwest Baptist (6-20, 0-8 GLVC) by scores of 7-0 and 5-0, respectively.
 
The Lions have now won 17 straight contests and have not allowed more than one run in a game since March 3.
 
Lindenwood smashed five homers on the day, with Whitney Wendel rounding the bases on two occasions. The pitching staff also lowered its team ERA to 1.00 with 14 scoreless frames from Marina Esparza, Brianna Macias, and Amanda Weyh.
 
GAME ONE OVERVIEW
The Lions wasted no time in game one, plating five runs in the opening inning. Weyh, who also started in the circle, smashed a full-count offering from SBU hurler Hallie Henderson over the left-field fence for the game's first two runs. Four batters later, Morgan Gersch also hit her first homer of the spring to drive in Wendel and Whitney Kinser.
 
Megan Clark added her second dinger of the season in the fourth, smacking an opposite-field solo shot. Wendel tacked on another insurance run in the seventh for the first of two homers the graduate student recorded on Saturday.
 
Weyh scattered three hits over five innings, striking out six Bearcats to improve to 13-0 this season. The sophomore Macias also punched out one opponent in two shutout frames.
 
GAME ONE LEADERS
Wendel (2-for-3, HR, 2 R, RBI)
Gersch (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI)
Weyh (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 5.0 IP)
Taylor Bushman (R, SB)
 
GAME TWO OVERVIEW
The Lindenwood attack scored early once again in the day's finale, as Irelynn West joined Gersch with an RBI single in the first inning. Wendel then hit her second homer of the afternoon in the second, scoring Bushman and Kinser to build the lead to 5-0.
 
Overall, the Lions tallied 10 hits from seven batters in game two, led by Gersch's three knocks. Wendel, who also scored twice, added a double to her four-bagger to finish 2-for-4.
 
Esparza struck out nine for the second straight start, allowing six hits in the complete-game shutout. The graduate student now has 80 strikeouts in 68.0 innings this spring.
 
GAME TWO LEADERS
Gersch (3-for-4, RB)
Wendel (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R)
Kinser (1-for-3, R, BB, SB)
Nicole Henson (1-for-3, R, SB)
Esparza (7.0 IP, 9 K)
 
NOTABLE
- Saturday marked the first true road games of the season for the Lions.
- With two more shutouts, the Lindenwood pitching staff lowered its ERA to 1.00. Second-ranked Concordia Irvine now leads DII with a 0.97 ERA as a staff.
- Lindenwood has already matched last season's win total of 23, led by the team's 17-game winning streak.
 
QUOTABLE
Head coach Erin Brown: "The pitching staff has been incredible. They dig deep and really compete each inning. Our defense settles in behind them and makes some great decisions and plays. I'm really so proud of them."
 
UP NEXT
The Lions cap its short four-game road trip on Sunday with a GLVC twin bill in Kansas City, Mo., against Rockhurst. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT from Loyola Park Softball Field.