Game #56
Lindenwood (27-28, 14-12 OVC)
Vs. UT Martin Skyhawks (20-33, 11-14 OVC)
 
Game Information
Date: Wednesday, May 21
Location: Marion, Ill.
Venue: Mt. Dew Park    
Start Time: 12:30 p.m.
All-Time Series: Lindenwood leads 6-3
Last Meeting: March 29, 2025, Lindenwood 2-0
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
On-Tap
Lindenwood heads to the OVC Tournament for the first time after earning the No. 6 seed and will face the seven seed UT Martin during the opening round of the tournament. All games during the first day are single elimination contests. The winner of this game will move on and face Tennessee Tech.

The Lions swept the Skyhawks earlier this season, behind some fantastic pitching which included a pair of complete game, three-hit shutouts by Josh Newell and Eli Brown. The Lindenwood pitching staff has been strong all season, ranking third in the OVC in team ERA.

The OVC Tournament will be played at Mt. Dew Park in Marion, Ill. The winner between the Lions and Skyhawks will take on the No. 3 seed Tennessee Tech on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. 

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 (.347)
Hits: Filip Sarota (62)
RBI: Sam Grunberg (47)
ERA: Bennett Stice (1.91)
Strikeouts: Eli Brown (67)
 
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
With a win, the Lions will take on Tennessee Tech on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.