ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood Softball team (13-18, 2-7 OVC) ended their three game losing skid on Wednesday with a 1-0 walk-off win over Saint Louis. The Lions collected nine hits in the contest and limited the Billiken offense to just one hit for the entire game, while also not allowing a SLU base runner to advance past second base.
Samantha Roulanaitis got the start this afternoon for the Lions and was lights out from the beginning. The Sophomore pitcher from Smithon, Ill carried a no hitter into the sixth inning before Saint Louis was finally able to sneak a hit down the left field line to lead off the inning. After giving up a two out walk in the top of the first, Roulanaitis didn't allow a base runner until the sixth inning as she struck out two batters and recorded four straight innings in which the Billikens went three up and three down as the score remained locked at zero heading to the bottom of the sixth.
However, the Lions had their chances early on in the bottom of the first and third innings as Lindenwood had runners on first and second both times, but SLU's starting pitcher Riley Nelson was able to escape both jams to keep LU off the scoreboard. The only run of the contest would come in the bottom of the seventh inning after
Teryn Brown led off the inning with an infield single to the second baseman and beat out the throw. After Brown advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Madisen Noll,
Anna Sanders singled on the first pitch that she saw to put runners on the corners with one away in the inning.
Jolie McMinn drew a two-out walk later in the inning to load the bases, and
Sadie Sexauer would get hit by a pitch on a full count to end the game for the Lions in walk-off fashion.
Offensively, both Noll and Sanders went 2/3 at the plate, while five other Lions recorded one hit.
Kylee Crowder had the only extra base hit for the Lions, which was a one-out triple to right center in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Lindenwood will now stay at home this weekend as they will welcome in Southern Indiana on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is a single game with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. CT, followed by a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon beginning at 12 p.m. CT. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
