Games #38-40
Lindenwood (21-16, 9-6 OVC)
at Morehead State (14-23, 4-11 OVC)
Match Information:
Dates: Saturday, Apr. 13 / Sunday, Apr. 14
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Venue: Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium
Start Times: 2:00 p.m. C.T. (Sat.) / 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. CT (Sun.)
All-Time Series: 2-1
Last Meeting: W, 13-9
Live Stats: Link
Watch (Game 1): Link
Watch (Game 2): Link
Watch (Game 3): Link

On-Tap
Lindenwood softball starts a six-game away stretch this weekend as they take on the Leathernecks of Western Illinois in Macomb, Ill. The Lions enter this Ohio Valley Conference showdown with a seven game win streak including six in a row in OVC play.

In the Ohio Valley Conference standings, Lindenwood is in a tie for third place with a 9-6 conference record heading into this weekend. Western Illinois sits at 4-11 which is tied for ninth in the OVC.

Last Weekend Recap
Lindenwood started last weekend with a 6-1 win over the Eagles of Morehead State after Amanda Weyh's eighth complete game of the season. She also eclipsed the 500 strikeout mark in her career making her the first Lion to do so at the NCAA level.

The Lions scored six runs on Friday on seven hits with seven different players registering a hit. Mya Bethany went 1-3 at the leadoff spot with a run scored and two RBI. Weyh and Tori Hatton also had an RBI each in the win.

In Saturday's double header, it was also defense as the Lions defeated Morehead by scores of 2-1 and 2-0. Game one saw the Lions only post two hits but a wild pitch late in the fifth inning gave Lindenwood the win. Avery Wapp picked up the win in the circle tossing a complete game.

Weyh came back out in game three of the series and completed the sweep for Lindenwood after her 58th career win, tying her for the Lindenwood record. It also marked her fifth shutout this season while allowing just two hits. 

OVC Preseason Poll
Southeast Missouri State was selected to win the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference softball crown as voted on by the league's head coaches and communications directors last week. Lindenwood was picked to finish in seventh.

Eastern Illinois earned six first-place votes as they were selected to finish in second followed by UT Martin and Southern Indiana. The Lions finished last season with a 16-32 overall record including a 8-15 conference record. Lindenwood made the OVC Tournament during their first Division I season, losing a heart-breaker to Tennessee State in 10 innings.

Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Amanda Weyh (.320)
Hits: Mya Bethany (30)
RBI: Irelynn West/ Amanda Weyh/Madisen Noll/ Tori Hatton (13)
ERA: Amanda Weyh (1.95)
Strikeouts: Amanda Weyh (122)

Scouting Western Illinois
Western Illinois is led by head coach Alisa Goler whose enters her fourth season with the Leathernecks. She had complied a 47-125 career record between her time in the Summit League and now the OVC.

Bella Alvarez is second on the team this season in batting average with a .294 in 36 games. Alvarez is second on the team in hits with 30 but does lead the team in doubles with seven and home runs with three.

Emiy Price is the Leathernecks ace this season with a team-low 2.61 ERA. She has appeared in 25 games making 15 starts. Price has allowed 59 runs in 102.0 IP including 38 earned. She also leads the team in strikeouts with 90.

Head Coach Erin Brown
Erin Brown is entering her third season as the head coach of the Lindenwood softball team in 2024. In 2023, the Lions went 16-32, including an 8-15 mark against OVC competition. Lindenwood finished with a winning record at home (12-10) and swept eventual conference champion Eastern Illinois late in the year at Lou Brock Sports Complex.

Under Brown's guidance, the Lindenwood softball team capped a historic 2022 season in the NCAA Midwest Regional and a 35-13 overall record. The Lions' trip to the regional tournament marked the first in program history, as the team claimed the No. 4 seed. Lindenwood earned a notable win over No. 2 UIndy in late April, the highest-ranked victory in program history.

Prior to Lindenwood, Brown was the head coach at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., where she accumulated a 348-302 record in 13 seasons at the helm of the program. Over her final seven seasons with the Bulldogs, Brown amassed 233 wins and a .643 winning percentage. Brown led TSU to five NCAA Regional Appearances, and coached three All-Americans, 12 first-team All-Conference selections, 10 second-team All-Conference honorees, and four conference major award winners in 13 campaigns. The Bulldogs made the GLVC Tournament in every season under Brown.

Up Next
Lindenwood continues their road trip next weekend as they travel to Southeast Missouri State for a matchup in Cape Girardeau, Mo. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.