ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood Softball team (16-18, 5-7 OVC) carried their momentum over from yesterday's 2-0 win into today's doubleheader and picked up two more wins over Southern Indiana to complete the sweep over the Screaming Eagles on Sunday. The Lions set a Division I Era record by scoring 15 runs in a single inning in the first game of the doubleheader, and got great production in the circle out of
Ryleigh Owens and
Samantha Roulanaitis in the second game to extend their winning streak to four games.
Game One: Lindenwood 15, Southern Indiana 6 (5)
The Screaming Eagles wasted no time getting on the board in game one as they put up three runs in the top of the first inning behind two RBI singles and an RBI double to immediately take a 3-0 lead. USI added on to their lead in the top of the second to make it 4-0 on another RBI single, and the score remained that way until the bottom of the third inning. Entering the home half of the third inning, Lindenwood had zero hits and had just two base runners reach base prior. The Lions exploded for 15 runs on 12 hits and took over the game after that and set the Division One Era record with 15 runs scored in a single inning. It was also the most runs scored in a single game during the 2026 season as well.
Tori Hatton put LU on the board with an RBI single that scored
Madisen Noll, and
Emily Geary tied the game at four shortly after with a bases clearing double to left center.
Teryn Brown later gave the Lions the lead on an RBI single down the left field line that scored Geary, and Noll followed the Brown RBI single with an RBI single of her own that brought in two more runs to extend Lindenwood's lead to three at 7-4. After
Anna Sanders drew a walk, Hatton recorded a triple that brought in three runs to make it 10-4, and
Danielle Franz capped off the 15 run inning with a pinch hit two-run double to right field. USI scored one run in the fourth and fifth innings, but the third inning by the Lions sealed the deal as they took care of business in game one to clinch the series victory over USI.
In the circle,
Molly Heidrick picked up her first win of the season by throwing 3.1 innings out of the bullpen and allowed one run on five hits with two strikeouts. The Redshirt Junior from Olathe, Kansas entered the game in the bottom of the first inning and was able to keep Southern Indiana at three runs by recording the final out of the inning with a play at the plate in which the runner was out after attempting to take two bases on the Lindenwood defense.
Game Two: Lindenwood 3, Southern Indiana 2
The Lions carried their momentum over from game one and scored one run in the bottom of the first thanks to a
Jolie McMinn RBI groundout to second base to put the Lions ahead 1-0. Lindenwood added on to their lead in the third inning as McMinn picked up her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field, and
Kylee Crowder made it a 3-0 game on an RBI single through the left side of the infield to seize control of the second game.
Ryleigh Owens got the start in the circle and carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, but the Screaming Eagles finally got to Owens and recorded back-to-back hits and scored a run to cut the lead down to 3-1. The Screaming Eagles put up another run in the top of the sixth with a two-out RBI single to centerfield and Owens would be pulled after USI made it a 3-2 game. The Senior pitcher from Edwardsville, Ill finished the game with 5.2 innings pitched and recorded five strikeouts finishing one shy of her season-high.
Samantha Roulanaitis entered the game for Owens in the top of the sixth with runners on first and second base and two outs, but she needed just four pitches to strike out USI's Grace Huffman to keep the lead in tact for LU. Roulanaitis ended the game for the Lions with a game-ending 1-6-4 double play to pick up her first save of her Lindenwood career and wrapped up a great week in the circle. The Sophomore pitcher ended the week with two complete game shutouts, allowing a total of five hits over 15.1 innings pitched, and finished the week with a 0.00 ERA and a WHIP of .39.
Lindenwood will now hit the road next weekend as they will take on Tennessee State on Friday and Saturday for a three game series with the Tigers. First pitch on Friday, April 3 is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
