Games #10-12
Lindenwood (4-5, 0-0 OVC)
vs. Illinois State (1-5, 0-0 MVC)
Match Information:
Dates: Friday, Feb. 28th - Sunday, Mar. 2nd
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Lou Brock Sports Complex
Start Times: 3:00 p.m. CT (Fri.) / 1:00 p.m. CT (Sat.) / 1:00 p.m. CT (Sun.)
All-Time Series: 0-2, ISU
Last Meeting : L, 6-8
Live Stats: Link

On-Tap
Lindenwood baseball comes back home off their road trips to the Lou Brock Sports Complex to battle Illinois State for a three-game series starting on Friday, Feb. 28th at 3:00 p.m. CT. The Lions will also play the following two days to start the month of March with start times set for 1:00 p.m. CT on Saturday and Sunday.

After sweeping Mississippi Valley State last weekend, the Lions traveled to SEC opponent Missouri this past Tuesday in a high-scoring affair. The Tigers eventually out-lasted the Lions by a final score of 14-10. Sam Grunberg went 3-5 at the plate adding two RBI. Tyler Thompson also had three RBI in the loss.

OVC Preseason Poll
The Ohio Valley Conference released their 2025 Preseason Baseball Poll as voted on by the OVC head baseball coaches and communications directors. Southeast Missouri State was picked as the preseason favorite heading into the year.

The Redhawks picked up 13 of 20 first-place votes and 157 points in being picked first, ahead of Little Rock, who earned five first-place votes and 144 points. Tennessee Tech was tabbed third (118) while Morehead State earned one first-place vote and finished fourth (107). Eastern Illinois was predicted fifth (92) while SIUE earned the final first-place vote and was tabbed sixth (89). The poll was rounded out by UT Martin (69), Southern Indiana (57), Lindenwood (45) and Western Illinois (22).

2025 Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Tyler Thompson (.440)
Hits: Kam Edwards (13)
RBI: Sam Grunberg / Thompson / Filip Sarota (10)
ERA: Ethan Smith (1.80)
Strikeouts: Eli Brown (18)

Head Coach PJ Finigan 
PJ Finigan will begin his third season on the Lindenwood baseball staff in 2025, and his second as head coach. 

In his first year at the helm of the program, the Lions won 16 games, including nine inside the Ohio Valley Conference. Josh Newell was tabbed conference pitcher of the week once during the season, while Dawson Hokuf went on to earn second team All-OVC honors. Hokuf finished the 2024 season hitting .344, and led the team in home runs (6) and RBI's (33). Lindenwood was active on the base paths this season as the Lions led the OVC with 99 stolen bases. Five players finished the year with double digit steals.

Under the direction of Finigan, Joe Copeland and Easton Rakers earned all-conference honors. Copeland garnered second-team recognition as a utility player after hitting .333. Rakers landed on the all-newcomer team as he was the best arm out of the pen for Lindenwood, posting a 3.31 ERA in 20 appearances. Preston Salazar was tabbed OVC Pitcher of the Week one time during the year after tossing a complete game five-hitter against Tennessee Tech on April 6. 

Up Next
Lindenwood continues their home stand next weekend as they host the Bulldogs of Butler starting on Friday, March 7th at 1:00 p.m. CT for a Friday double header. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.