ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood Softball team (6-8, 0-0 OVC) fell in their home opener on Thursday afternoon by a final score of 8-6 to Green Bay. Tori Hatton and Jolie McMinn led the way for the Lions offensively as they both went 2/3 on the afternoon, but the Phoenix put up four runs in the top of the sixth inning which was too much for the Lions to overcome late in the game. 

In the first inning, both teams scored a run behind RBI doubles. In the bottom of the first with the Lions trailing 1-0, Kylee Crowder reached base on an infield single to the shortstop and came around to score two at bats later thanks to a Tori Hatton RBI double off the left field fence to even the score at one. The Phoenix added one run in the next three innings to grab a 4-1 lead after four innings of play behind a SAC fly, home run, and RBI single to left field putting the pressure on Lindenwood. 

LU responded in a big way in the bottom of the fifth inning by putting up four runs and taking a 5-4 lead. Izzy Wilcox started the rally with a lead-off triple and came around to score the next at bat on a Madisen Noll RBI single to left center. After Kylee Crowder was hit by a pitch, Emily Geary delivered an RBI knock up the middle to cut the Green Bay lead down to 4-3. The Lions would eventually tie the game after Anna Sanders was hit by a pitch to make it 4-4, and with the bases loaded, Jolie McMinn gave Lindenwood the 5-4 lead on a SAC fly to center field with two innings to go. 

Green Bay matched the Lions four runs in the top of the sixth however, and retook the lead by a score of 8-5. Lindenwood got a run back in the bottom of the seventh thanks to McMinn's second hit and RBI of the day to make it 8-6, but that would be all the Lions could bring home in the last inning as the Phoenix hung on to win the game. 

Lindenwood will resume play tomorrow afternoon with two games against Indiana State and Valparaiso. First pitch with the Sycamores is set for 3 p.m. followed by a 5:30 p.m. start with the Beacons.