Games #17-18
Lindenwood (8-8, 0-0 OVC)
vs. Murray State (8-3, 0-0 MVC)

Series Information:
Dates: Tuesday, March 11-Wednesday, March 12
Location: Murray, Ky.
Venue: Johnny Regan Field
Start Times: 3:00 p.m. both days
All-Time Series: Murray State leads 3-0
Last Meeting : March 10, 2024, Murray State 14-8
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
On-Tap
Lindenwood hits the road for a short two-game series with Murray State. The Lions split their series with Butler last weekend in some high-scoring games. The Black and Gold tallied 36 runs in four games. Kam Edwards led the offensive attack, hitting .647 with one home run and six RBI. As a result, Edwards was named OVC Player of the Week/ 

Josh Newell and Ethan Smith were terrific on the mound in both wins. Newell tossed 6.1 innings of one run ball, while striking out five. Smith hurled six innings, giving up just one run on Sunday. Newell was tabbed as OVC Pitcher of the Week for his efforts last Friday. 
 
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: Kam Edwards (.441)
Hits: Kam Edwards (26)
RBI:  Filip Sarota (18)
ERA: Ethan Smith (2.18)
Strikeouts: Eli Brown (29)
 
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
The Lions travel to Memphis, Tenn. for a three-game weekend series with Memphis, beginning on Friday at 6:00 p.m.