CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Lindenwood baseball team (4-4, 0-0 OVC) dropped their midweek contest at Illinois (3-4, 0-0 Big Ten) by a score of 13-9 on Wednesday afternoon. The Lions held a lead entering the bottom of the fifth before the Illini reeled off seven unanswered runs to break the game open.

The loss was the most productive outing of the season thus far for the Lindenwood offense, surpassing their previous high of six runs scored. Charlie Isom-McCall led the Lions with two hits and four RBIs, while Filip Sarota posted a three-hit, two RBI outing.

On the other hand, it was a day to forget for the Lindenwood pitching staff, as the Lions surrendered season-highs in hits (15) and earned runs (12). Ethan Milius put in a solid three innings to start the game for Lindenwood,  allowing zero earned runs on three hits with a strikeout.

How it Happened
Following a quiet first two and a half innings, Illinois opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly that plated Groves, who had initially reached base on a throwing error by the Lindenwood infield, but Ethan Milius was able to pitch out of the inning without allowing any additional runs.

If the first three frames lacked offense, the fourth more than made up for it, with both teams scoring five runs in the inning. After loading the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth, Filip Sarota put the Lions in front with a two-RBI base hit up the middle.

Charlie Isom-McCall then took one deep to right center for a three-run homer to give LU a 5-1 advantage. It was Isom-McCall's first home run of the season.

The lead was short lived, however, as the Illini answered with five runs of their own in the bottom of the frame, including a two-run blast from Jennings, to take a 6-5 lead.

Lindenwood responded in their half of the fifth, with Charlie Isom-McCall delivering again with an RBI base hit that plated Jake Radosevich before Filip Sarota came home to score after consecutive wild deliveries by the Illinois pitcher to put LU back in front.

Back-to-back walks loaded the bases with two outs, but the Lions were unable to take advantage and the lead remained just one.

The missed opportunity loomed large in the bottom of the fifth, as Illinois was able to hang another five-spot to take a 11-7 lead. The Illini recorded a homer, triple, double, and single in the inning while also reaching base on a walk and hit by pitch.

After a scoreless sixth, Illinois tacked on two more runs in the seventh with Farina doubling down the left field line to drive in a run before scoring on a wild pitch later in the inning.

The Lions tried to put together a rally in the ninth, scoring a pair of runs to cut the deficit to four, but came one batter short of getting the tying run on deck as they stranded a runner on third to end the game.

Next Up
Lindenwood returns to Lou Brock Sports complex this weekend to host NIU. Game one is scheduled for Friday, February 27th at 1:00 p.m.