ST. CHARLES, Mo. --An outstanding offensive output was not enough for Lindenwood baseball (2-11) on Tuesday. The Lions plated nine runs, but could not hold the Saint Louis Billikens (8-3) at bay, and were defeated 14-9.
Sophomore Matt James (0-3) got the ball to start for Lindenwood and took the loss. Freshman Easton Rakers was a bright spot for the Lions, coming out of the bullpen and throwing two innings, giving up two runs, zero earned, on three hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.
Senior Greg Sanders led the way offensively for the Lions, going 1-for-5 in the ballgame with a double and two RBI. Freshman Landon Willbrand put together a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-1 with a double and two RBI. Sophomore Dawson Hokuf also chipped in, going 1-for-1 for Lindenwood with two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 5-0, the Lions first put runs on the board in the third inning. Lindenwood scored twice on a two-run double off the bat of Sanders.
The Billikens expanded their lead to 7-2 before the Lions offense got back to work, cutting into that lead in the fourth. Lindenwood brought home a pair, with one run driven in by junior Drake Roberts' single, which tightened the Billikens lead to 7-4.
Saint Louis built their lead to 8-4 before the Lindenwood offense got back to work, reducing that lead to 8-7 in the seventh. The Lions recorded three runs in the frame, two of them coming across on a two-run single off the bat of Hokuf.
The Billikens expanded their lead to 14-7 before the Lindenwood offense got back in action, cutting into that lead in the ninth. The Lions pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Willbrand that brought home junior Tyson Ludwig and sophomore Ambrose Russo, bringing the score to 14-9 in favor of Saint Louis. The Lions were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» Lindenwood's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed three runs across.
» Lindenwood went 6-for-17 (.353) with runners in scoring position.
» Lindenwood pitchers faced 47 Saint Louis hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Lions drew seven walks from Saint Louis pitching.
» Sanders led the Lions at the plate, going 1-for-5 with a double and two RBI.
» Saint Louis was led offensively by junior Sitzman, who went 4-for-6 with five RBI.
» Freshman Cherico led the Billikens pitching staff, throwing one shutout inning.
UP NEXT
Lindenwood will hit the road this weekend to take on Alabama State in a four-game series starting on Friday at 6:00 p.m. in Montgomery, Ala.
