The Lindenwood baseball team (5-5) earned a series opening win over Illinois State (1-6) by a score of 8-5 on Friday afternoon from Lou Brock Sports Complex

GAME OVERVIEW
Illinois State scratched one across in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Jake Radosevich hit a leadoff home run to begin the second, tying things up at one apiece. It was the Redbirds turn to respond, scoring two in the top of the third, taking a 3-1 lead. Once again, it didn't take long for Lindenwood to answer when Charlie Isom-McCall sent one over the wall for his first collegiate homer to begin the third, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

After Isom-McCall's homer, the next three Lions reached base, which brought Radosevich to the dish and he made the most of it, belting a grand slam to left center, putting Lindenwood up 6-3. Illinois State got within one, 6-5 with a two-run shot of its own in the fifth. Illinois State worked out of a jam in the bottom half, keeping the deficit at one.

Easton Rakers came out of the pen and fired two scoreless innings, getting to the eighth with a 6-5 score, In the bottom half, Lindenwood added two runs with a two-out rally when Bryson Arnette doubled home Kam Edwards and Radosevich kept his big day going with his sixth RBI of the day, bringing home Arnette, making the score 8-5 heading to the ninth.

Rakers finished off the game with a scoreless ninth and picked up his first save of the year. Josh Newell earned the win on the mound as Lindenwood took the series opener 8-5.

GAME LEADERS
Jake Radosevich (2-2, 2 HRs, 6 RBI, 2 walks)
Easton Rakers (3 IP, 2 Ks, 1 save)
Charlie Isom-McCall (1-4, 1 HR)

UP NEXT
These two teams will square off again tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at Lou Brock Sports Complex