Games #42-44
Lindenwood (20-21, 7-7 OVC)
Vs. Western Illinois Leathernecks (12-24, 5-10 OVC)
 
Series Information
Dates: Friday, April 25-Sunday, April 27  
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Venue: Alfred D. Boyer Stadium
Start Time: 2:00 p.m. (Friday), 1:00 p.m. (Saturday, Sunday)
All-Time Series: Western leads 3-1
Last Meeting: April 28, 2024, Lindenwood, 3-1
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: tinyurl.com/3v8xu6b4
 
On-Tap
The Lindenwood baseball team travels to Macomb, Ill. for a three-game series with the Leathernecks. Lindenwood is coming off a pair of wins against UMSL and Rockhurst, respectively. During the two wins, the Black and Gold scored 24 runs and gave up just five.

Tanner Simpson drove in a total of five runs across both games, while Brody Barker brought home four in Wednesday's matchup against the Hawks. The Lions had three players record at least three hits in the win over Rockhurst.

Western Illinois enters the weekend having won two in a row, including a 7-3 win over Iowa on Tuesday. The Leathernecks sit at 5-10 in the OVC, while Lindenwood holds a 7-7 mark in conference play.
 
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 (.360)
Hits: Kam Edwards (58)
RBI: Sam Grunberg (36)
ERA: Easton Rakers (2.25)
Strikeouts: Eli Brown (48)
 
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 Carbondale, Ill. for a matchup with Southern Illinois on Tuesday, April 29. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.