NASHVILLE, TN. - The Lindenwood Softball team (19-18, 8-7 OVC) extended their winning streak to seven games on Friday afternoon with an 11-4 win in extra innings. The Lions erupted for seven runs in the top of the eighth inning to complete their second consecutive OVC series sweep and improved to 8-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. Izzy Wilcox, Sadie Sexauer, and Emily Geary all recorded two RBI in the contest to lead the Lions, while Tori Hatton collected her fourth game this season in which she has had three hits in a single contest. 

The first runs of the game happened in the top of the third when Geary roped a two-run single to centerfield that scored Hatton and Anna Sanders to put Lindenwood ahead 2-0. The Lions added on to their lead later in the inning behind a Sexauer RBI groundout to make it 3-0 after 2.5 innings played. Samantha Roulanaitis shut the Tiger offense down for the first four innings of the contest as she allowed three hits and struck out six, which tied her career-high up to that point in the game. TSU's offense was able to get through to Roulanaitis in the fifth however as the Tigers put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth and took a 4-3 lead with two innings to go in the game. 

In the following inning, Sanders tied the game at four with a one-out RBI groundout after Madisen Noll had reached base on an error by the TSU left fielder the previous at bat and was able to score on the groundout to make it 4-4. Ryleigh Owens replaced Roulanaitis in the bottom of the sixth with two outs and was able to keep Tennessee State off the scoreboard by escaping a bases loaded jam to send the game into the seventh inning still tied at four. After both teams failed to bring in a run in the seventh, the game headed to extra innings where Lindenwood's offense came to life and scored seven runs on four hits. The seven-run rally started with Tori Hatton reaching base on an error by the TSU pitcher and Jolie McMinn following Hatton with an RBI bunt single to put the Lions ahead 6-4. Later in the inning, Sexauer delivered an RBI single to right field that brought in Justine Davidson who pinch ran for McMinn, and the rally was capped off by a two-run RBI double down the right field line off the bat of Izzy Wilcox to make it an 11-4 game. Owens would slam the door shut on the Tigers in the bottom of the eighth and improved her record to 6-5 on the season as she was able to get two groundouts and a strikeout to finish off the game for Lindenwood. 

The Lions will now return home next weekend to host the SIUE Cougars on April 11 and 12 at the Lou Brock Sports Complex. First pitch on April 11 is set for 1 p.m. CT with game two of the series scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The final game of the series will be on Sunday for a single game beginning at 1 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.