MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Lindenwood baseball team (19-18, 6-7 OVC) picked up their first road win in-conference with a 5-4 victory at Morehead State (18-19, 5-8 OVC) on Friday night. The Lions were able to overcome an early four-run deficit to secure their sixth win in their last seven conference games.

It was a gritty performance on the mound by Josh Newell, who after allowing four runs on five hits through the first two innings, tossed five consecutive shutout frames while finishing the night with a career-high nine strikeouts. It was Newell's third consecutive win as he moved his record to 6-3 on the season.

Meanwhile, Easton Rakers secured his team-leading fourth save of the season after preserving the one-run lead through the game's final two innings.

Offensively, Filip Sarota led the way with two hits – both doubles – and a season-high three RBIs. The performance extended his hitting streak to seven games, with four of those being multi-hit outings.

The Lions tallied 12 total hits in the game, with Jake Radosevich and Kam Edwards also registering two hits apiece while Tanner Simpson and Sam Driscoll both recorded RBIs.

How it Happened
Morehead State scored four runs through the first two innings to take control early, plating one in the bottom of the first with back-to-back extra base hits by Davis Germann and Aubrey Kearns before a Caden Sheriden three-run homer in the second inning extended the lead.

Following a scoreless third, a Jake Radosevich base hit and Kam Edwards two-out walk set the table for Filip Sarota, who delivered a double to deep left center that cleared the bases and cut the deficit in half. After Owen Ralph drew a walk, pinch hitter Tanner Simpson added another run with an RBI single that plated Sarota from second.

Both teams stranded runners in scoring position in the fifth inning, but back-to-back doubles by Kam Edwards and Filip Sarota to lead off the sixth tied the game. Sarota then moved up 90 feet on an Owen Ralph sacrifice bunt before coming home to score the go-ahead run on a Sam Driscoll sacrifice fly.

A Will Geary leadoff single, Matt Graff walk, and Kam Edwards bunt single loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh, but the Lions were unable to bring any additional runs home.

After Josh Newell worked through his fifth consecutive shutout inning in the seventh, Easton Rakers took over in the eighth, and despite giving up three hits in the frame, kept Lindenwood's one-run lead intact as the game entered the ninth inning.

The Lions were unable to add any insurance runs in the top of the ninth and following an Ian McCubbin one out double in the home half, the Eagles had the tying run in scoring position. However, Rakers remained steady and got the next two MSU batters to roll into groundouts to end the game.

Next Up
Game two between Lindenwood and Morehead State is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, with the series finale set to follow on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT