CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Lindenwood baseball team (12-16, 0-6 OVC) got back in the win column on Tuesday night with a 3-1 win over Southern Illinois (10-17, 1-2 MVC). After not holding a lead through the first eight frames, Jake Radosevich put Lindenwood in front in the top of the ninth with a solo homer.

Radosevich and Charlie Isom-McCall led LU offensively, with both batters going 2-4 in the contest.

Meanwhile, five Lindenwood pitchers combined to allow just four hits while ringing up seven strikeouts. Easton Rakers got the win after allowing no runs on one hit with four strikeouts through the final two innings.

How it Happened
The Salukis took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, loading the bases with no outs to set up Jaden Flores sacrifice fly that plated Jacob McKenze. However, Lindenwood reliever Braden Branigan retired the next two batters to get out of the inning without any further damage.

The score remained 1-0 in the seventh inning, but a two-out fielding error on a high and deep fly ball off the bat of Kam Edwards allowed Jake Radosevich – who had reached on a leadoff single – to hustle his way home from first base for the tying run.

After Lindenwood stranded a runner on third in the top of the eighth, SIU moved a runner into scoring position with no outs in the home half. However, Easton Rakers sat down three consecutive batters – including two by strikeout – to shut down the scoring chance.

The game's defining moment came in the top of the ninth, with Jake Radosevich stepping to the plate and taking a ball deep to left center for a go-ahead home run. It was Radosevich's team-leading sixth homer of the season.

The Lions would add an insurance run later in the frame with Kam Edwards singling, stealing second, and moving to third on a throwing error before coming home to score on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 3-1.

The Salukis had a two-out base runner in the bottom of the ninth, by Rakers finished the job without allowing a run to pick up his first win of the season.

Next Up
The Lions return home to host Southeast Missouri this weekend. Game one is scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd at 5:00 p.m.