Games 45-47
Lindenwood (23-21, 12-9 OVC)
at. Western Illinois (12-27, 7-13 OVC) 

Dates: Saturday, April 25 | Sunday, April 26, 2026
Times: 1 PM | 3:30 PM | 12 PM
Venue: Mary Ellen McKee Stadium
Live Stats: Lindenwood @ Western Illinois
Watch: ESPN+

Last Time Out
The Lions fell on Wednesday in their final midweek matchup of the season at Saint Louis by a score of 7-6. Madisen Noll went 3-3 from the plate to lead the Lions offensively, driving in half of the team's runs by hitting a homerun off the left field foul pole and collecting two RBI singles. Lindenwood outhit the Billikens 11-7, but SLU scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to grab a 7-2 lead. In the top of the seventh inning, the Lions offense erupted for six hits and scored four runs and attempted to make a comeback. Noll, Anna Sanders, Tori Hatton, and Danielle Franz all delivered RBI base hits to cut the lead down to one, but the rally fell just short as SLU was able to escape the top of the seventh by getting a forceout at second base to end the game with the tying run in scoring position. 

Scouting the Opposition

• Western Illinois is currently the eighth seed in the OVC with a conference record of 7-13. The Leathernecks are 1.5 game ahead of Morehead State for the final spot in the OVC Tournament field with six games to go in conference play. 
• Reigning Co-OVC Player of The Year Payton Brown leads WIU in most offensive categories including batting average (.407), hits (48), home runs (8), and RBI (38). 
• In the circle, Sophomore Pitcher Libby Spaulding leads the Leathernecks in conference play with 34 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched. Junior Pitcher Lillie Wools is right behind Spaulding who has 29 K's in 44.2 innings pitched and has an ERA of 5.17. 

Stats To Know

• Tori Hatton is three RBIs away from setting the single season Lindenwood NCAA Era record (43).
• Three more wins by the Lions would mark the most wins in a single season in the Division I Era (26). 
• Three more OVC wins would also mark the most conference wins in a single season in the Division I Era (15).

Up Next
Lindenwood will wrap up their regular season next weekend at home against Morehead State. The Lions will play two games on Friday, May 1 before playing their final OVC game of the season on Saturday, May 2. All three games will be available on ESPN+.