MARTIN, Tenn. – The Lindenwood baseball team (11-14, 0-4 OVC) dropped their series opener at UT Martin (12-13, 1-3 OVC) by a score of 7-2 on Friday evening. The Lions were unable to overcome multiple missed opportunities and mistakes, leaving eight runners on base and committing four errors in the field.  

LU totaled seven hits in the contest. Kam Edwards led the team with two doubles and an RBI in three at-bats.

Josh Newell got the loss after giving up three earned runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts through a six-inning start.

How it Happened
Charlie Isom-McCall and Will Geary led off the game with back-to-back singles before moving to second and third on a double steal with two outs, but both were left stranded following a groundout.

The Skyhawks took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second, with Conley doubling to left field to drive in Popick and Lawrence – who had both reached on base hits – before coming home to score on a throwing error moments later.

Lindenwood got one run back in the top of the sixth, as Jake Radosevich was walked and Matt Graff singled before Kam Edwards doubled to plate Radosevich, but Edwards was thrown out on the play after overrunning second base. That left Graf on third with two outs, but the Lions were unable to bring him home.

UT Martin immediately responded in the home half, with Anderson reaching on an error to lead off the inning before a two-out, two-run homer by Lawrence pushed the UTM lead to 5-1.

The Lions loaded the bases with just one away in the top of the seventh but were unable to capitalize as a double play ended the scoring threat. Martin would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, with a throwing error on a Davis sacrifice bunt allowing Grines to score from second base before Davis scored on a Payton sacrifice fly after stealing second and moving to third on a wild pitch.

The Lions scored one more run in the top of the eighth, as Mathew Graf scored on a Tyler Ellis sacrifice fly after being hit by a pitch and moving to third on another Kam Edwards double. However, Lindenwood was unable to manufacture any more runs in the contest.

Next Up
The Lions and Skyhawks will continue their series on Saturday, with game two scheduled to get underway at 3:00 p.m.