GAME 1 | Little Rock 4, Lindenwood 3
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. --The Lindenwood Lions got three hits from junior Anthony Stellato in a 4-3 loss to the Little Rock Trojans Saturday.
Sophomore Preston Salazar (0-6) got the ball to start for Lindenwood (3-19, ) and took the loss. The right-hander went 5.1 innings, giving up four runs, two earned, on five hits, allowing four walks and striking out five. Freshman Easton Rakers was a bright spot for the Lions, coming out of the bullpen and throwing 1.2 shutout innings, allowing no hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
In addition to his three hits, Stellato had an RBI to lead the Lions. Sophomore Dawson Hokuf put together a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and an RBI. Senior Joe Copeland also contributed for Lindenwood, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 2-0, the Lions first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. Lindenwood got an RBI single from Stellato, scoring junior Brett Bowers from second base.
The Lions kept the Trojans off the board before tying it up in the sixth. Lindenwood picked up a run on Hokuf's two-out solo home run off of sophomore Jackson Wells, which brought the score level at 2-2.
Little Rock broke that tie and took a 4-2 lead heading into the eighth, when Lindenwood closed the gap to 4-3. The Lions notched a run on Copeland's two-out RBI double. The Lions were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» Stellato led the Lions, amassing three base knocks in the ballgame.
» Lindenwood's power output was led by Hokuf, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Lindenwood's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed one run across.
» The Lions out-hit the Trojans at an 8-5 clip.
» Lindenwood pitchers faced 36 Little Rock hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out eight.
» Hokuf led the Lions at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and an RBI.
» Little Rock was led offensively by junior Skyler Trevino, who went 1-for-3 with a double.
» Wells led the Trojans pitching staff, throwing 6.2 innings of two-run ball.
GAME 2 | Little Rock 9, Lindenwood 3
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. --Lindenwood got contributions from every part of their lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, but the Lions fell to the Little Rock Trojans 9-3 Saturday.
Sophomore Eli Brown (0-5) started and took the loss on the mound for Lindenwood (MO) (3-20, ). Freshman Jacob Brown was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 1.2 innings, surrendering one run on one hit, walking one and striking out two.
Senior Joe Copeland led the way offensively for the Lions, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with an RBI. Junior Anthony Stellato furnished a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Junior Brett Bowers also helped out, going 1-for-5 for Lindenwood (MO) with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions were trailing 6-0 in the seventh inning when they first put runs on the board. Sophomore Dawson Hokuf came across to score the lone run of the inning for Lindenwood and get them on the board.
The Lions deficit expanded to 8-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the eighth inning. Lindenwood (MO) brought home a pair, with one run driven in by Bowers' single, which tightened the Trojans lead to 8-3. The Lions were unable to get any closer, as Little Rock added one run to their tally on the way to a 9-3 final.
GAME NOTES
» Every Lions starter reached base safely in the loss.
» Lindenwood's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed two runs across.
» Lindenwood left 16 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Lindenwood pitchers faced 40 Little Rock hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Lions drew six walks from Little Rock pitching.
» Copeland led the Lions at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
» Little Rock was led offensively by senior Tyler Williams, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
» Sophomore Preston Davis led the Trojans pitching staff, throwing five scoreless innings.
UP NEXT
The Lions and Trojans will close out their series tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in Little Rock, Ark.
