Games #35-37
Lindenwood (16-18, 7-8 OVC)
vs. Western Illinois (9-26, 5-10 OVC)
Game Information:
Dates: Saturday, Apr. 12th - Sunday, Apr. 13th
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Lou Brock Sports Complex
Start Times: 12:00 p.m. CT / 2:30 p.m. CT (Sat.) | 12:00 p.m. (Sun.)
All-Time Series: 5-1
Last Meeting: W, 9-3
Live Stats: Link
Watch (Game 3): Link
On-Tap
Lindenwood softball host Western Illinois for their second to last home stand of the season this Saturday for a three-game series. Best on best this weekend as the Lions have the second best ERA of any OVC school (3.18 ERA) this season while the Leathernecks boast the second best team batting average in the conference (.294 BA).
The Lions are coming off a 1-2 weekend against Southeast Missouri State a week ago at Lou Brock with Lindenwood winning the first game by a final score of 3-1. Lindenwood fell in game two by a final of 5-0 before the rubber match went the way of the Redhawks by a score of 2-1.
Western Illinois also went 1-2 last weekend in their home series against Tennessee State including an impressive 15 run performance in game three to end the series. Lindenwood currently ranks sixth in the conference standings with a 7-8 record during OVC play while Western Illinois sits in eighth with a 5-10 mark.
SEMO Series Recap
Pitching was the name of the game for Lindenwood last weekend during their series against SEMO.
Ryleigh Owens picked up the lone win for the Lions in game one after throwing 5.0 innings allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts.
Avery Wapp came in relief picking up the save tossing two shutout innings with four strikeouts.
Madisen Noll went 3-3 in game one while
Mya Bethany went 2-2 with two bunt singles and a RBI. Bethany had a team-high four hits throughout the series while hitting .500. Four different Lions recorded an RBI in the series.
OVC Preseason Poll
The Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State were selected as the 2025 Preseason favorite, garnering nine first-place votes and finishing with 152 points after claiming the OVC Tournament Championship last season. They were followed by Southern Indiana who received six first-place votes (140 points) and 2024 OVC Regular Season Champion Eastern Illinois with five first-place votes (139 points).
Tennessee State follows the top three ranking fourth with 107 points followed by Tennessee Tech (82), Lindenwood (80), UT Martin (74), SIUE (73), Morehead State (30) and Western Illinois (23). There are a total of 27 conference games this season with each team playing the other schools three times.
2025 Statistical Leaders
Batting Average:
Jolie McMinn (.333)
Hits: McMinn (29)
RBI: McMinn (20)
ERA:
Avery Wapp (2.18)
Strikeouts: Wapp (95)
Head Coach Erin Brown
Erin Brown is entering her fourth season as the head coach of the Lindenwood softball team in 2025.
Brown led the Lions to an OVC Tournament appearance after guiding Lindenwood to a 25-25 record. Lindenwood had an impressive home record in 2024 going 12-5 at Lou Brock Sports Complex.
Irelynn West earned First Team All-conference honors while
Amanda Weyh earned Second Team. Under Brown, the Lions swept cross-town rivals Saint Louis in two games during a home-and-home series. The Lions went 13-14 in OVC play. Brown also coached five CSC Academic All-District players.
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.
Irelynn West and
Dallis Darnell earned all-conference honors with West being a second-team selection and Darnell being named to the all-newcomer team.
Up Next
Lindenwood hits the road for the first time in two weekends as they travel to Morehead State for three games. Due to Easter Weekend, the Lions will play a double header on Friday, April 18th before wrapping up the series on Saturday, April 19th with a single game. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.
