PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The Lindenwood baseball team (2-2, 0-0 OVC)  came away with a split in their second doubleheader at Arkansas Pine Bluff (2-2, 0-0 SWAC), finishing game two on Sunday morning after the contest entered a weather delay on Saturday afternoon. The Lions posted their first shutout win of the season in game one before falling in walk off fashion in game two.

Game 1 – Lindenwood 3, UAPB 0
Seth Benes was the headline in game one, 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. 

Game 2 – Lindenwood 1, UAPB 2
Runs remained at a premium for both teams in game two, with Lindenwood falling 2-1 on a walk off in the bottom of the ninth. The conclusion of the contest, which began on Saturday morning, was postponed until Sunday due to heavy rain causing rapidly deteriorating field conditions.

Despite the loss, freshman Lucas Niemeyer was lights out in his first collegiate start, tossing seven complete shutout innings. He struck out three batters while surrendering just two hits and one base on balls.

Lindenwood only mustered four total hits offensively, with Owen Ralph driving in the Lions' lone run with a double in the fifth inning .

How it Happened
The first hit of the game was a UAPB leadoff double by Dworsky in the bottom the third. However, after moving up to third base on a sacrifice bunt, a well-executed relay by the Lindenwood defense nailed Dworsky at home on a would-be sacrifice fly to left field to end the inning.

LU remained hitless through the fourth, but in the top of the fifth, back-to-back two out doubles by Mathew Graf and Owen Ralph plated the first run of the game to give Lindenwood a 1-0 lead.

LU nearly added a second run in the top of the eighth, but Kam Edwards was thrown out at the plate after trying to take third and home on a wild pitch. 

With Lindenwood still leading 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth, Pine Bluff loaded the bases with just one out, but the weather forced the game into a rain delay before it could be concluded. After the game resumed on Sunday morning, UAPB was able to steal a win with a Blake Coleman walk off base hit that drove in a pair of runs.

Next Up
Lindenwood hosts St. Thomas for their home openers next weekend. Game one at Lou Brock Sports Complex is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20^th. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday, February 21^st, with the series finale set to follow the following afternoon at 1:00 p.m.