Games #53-55
Lindenwood (26-26, 13-10 OVC)
Vs. Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (25-27, 13-11 OVC)
 
Series Information:
Dates: Thursday, May 15-Saturday, May 17
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Lou Brock Sports Complex    
Start Time: 5:00 p.m. (Thursday, Friday), 1:00 p.m. (Saturday)
All-Time Series: Lindenwood leads 8-3
Last Meeting: April 7, 2024, Lindenwood 9-4
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: tinyurl.com/5n8rc6jj
 
On-Tap
Lindenwood returns home for the final series of the regular season, hosting Southern Indiana this weekend at Lou Brock Sports Complex. The Lions dropped two out of three to Tennessee Tech this past weekend.

The one win came on Friday as Josh Newell tossed another quality start, going seven innings, allowing just five hits and striking out two. For Newell, it was his OVC leading ninth win of the season which is one shy of tying the program single-season record held by Brendan Feldman in 2017

The Lions are currently 13-10 overall in the OVC, one game ahead of Southern Indiana and SEMO for the fourth seed in the conference. The Screaming Eagles have won four of their last five and are coming off a sweep of SEMO in their last OVC series. The Black and Gold hold a 9-4 advantage in the series history and took two out of three last season.

There will be 13 seniors honored on Saturday for Senior Day: Evan Funkhouser, Kam Edwards, Zach Buschshulte, Matt James, Bennett Stice, Joseph Waters, Eli Brown, Mitch Cummins, Jack Meyer, Filip Sarota, Carson Subbert, Ryan Sell, and Bryson Arnette/

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 (.345)
Hits: Filip Sarota (60)
RBI: Sam Grunberg (45)
ERA: Bennett Stice (1.88)
Strikeouts: Eli Brown (63)
 
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 will wait and see who their opponent will be at the OVC Tournament held at Mt. Dew Park in Marion, Ill. from May 21-24.