PINE BLUFF, Ark. – A spectacular pitching performance carried the Lindenwood baseball team (2-1, 0-0 OVC) to a 3-0 win in the first contest of Saturday's doubleheader at Arkansas Pine Bluff (1-2, 0-0 SWAC). Game two entered a rain delay with LU leading 1-0 with one out and the bases loaded for UAPB in the bottom of the ninth, with a decision on the status of the contest still to be determined.

Seth Benes was the headline, throwing seven complete scoreless innings in his Lindenwood debut, registering five strikeouts while allowing just six hits and no walks. Easton Rakers picked up his first save of the season after entering in the ninth inning and retiring the Pine Bluff side in order.

Offensively, Will Geary posted his third multi-hit game of the weekend, coming just a home run short of completing the cycle. Charlie Isom-McCall, Mathew Graf, and William Zareh drove in runs for the Lions.

How it Happened
Lindenwood opened the scoring in the second inning with a Mathew Graf single to right field that scored William Zareh, who had initially reached on a leadoff hit by pitch before advancing into scoring position on a base hit by Filip Sarota. LU loaded the bases following a Kam Edwards walk with two outs but were unable to bring any more runs across home plate in the frame, leaving three runners on base.

Both offenses were kept quiet through the third and fourth innings before Lindenwood extended the lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. Following a Will Geary leadoff triple, Charlie Isom-McCall made the score 2-0 with blooper to right field that found grass for an RBI single. Isom-McCall was subsequently caught stealing at second base before William Zareh added another run with a solo blast to left field for LU's first home run of the 2026 season.

Pine Bluff moved a runner into scoring position with a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh, but Ethan Cantareira made a spectacular diving catch on hard hit ball down the left field line to rob the potential RBI opportunity and keep the shutout intact.

Lindenwood was unable to add any additional runs in the eighth or ninth, but three proved to be plenty as Dillon Haftorson and Easton Rakers finished the job on the mound to complete the shutout.

The status of game two is still to be determined. An update will be provided once a final decision has been made.