EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Lindenwood baseball team (14-18, 2-7 OVC) dropped their midweek non-conference game at Evansville (11-19, 4-2 MVC) on Wednesday night by a score of 9-2. The Purple aces plated runs in each of the first four innings, including a four-run fourth frame, to open up a lead the Lions were unable to overcome. 

Jake Radosevich led Lindenwood with two hits in the contest, while Tyler Ellis and Will Geary recorded RBIs. Six Lindenwood arms saw action in the game, with Braden Branigin getting tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on two hits with a strikeout through the first 1.2 innings.

How it Happened
Evansville began the home half of the first with three consecutive walks to load the bases with no outs but only scored one run on a 4-6-3 double play before Braden Branigin worked out of the inning with a fly out to right.

The Purple Aces tacked on to their lead with two outs in the second as Simon Shulz doubled to right field to bring in a runner from third base. After a walk put two on, Lindenwood made a call to the bullpen for Tanner Paschke, who recorded the third out to end the inning.

However, after Evansville put up another run in the third, things really began to unravel for Lindenwood in the bottom of the fourth as the Lions surrendered four runs on three hits and two errors.

Tyler Ellis got the Lions on the board in the top of the fifth with a no doubt solo home runs to left field. It was Ellis' third home run of the season. After Michael Walsh came in and worked the first scoreless inning of the game for LU, back-to-back walks drawn by Will Geary and Jake Radosevich put two on with one out, but Lindenwood was unable to capitalize.

After the Lions failed to draw any closer in the top of the seventh, Evansville extended the lead following the stretch with a Reagan Reeder two-run homer.

The Lions got one back in the top of the eighth inning with a Will Geary RBI single up the middle that scored Tanner Simpson from second base, but despite a Filip Sarota base hit that put runners on the corners, Lindenwood was unable to plate anymore runs. The Lions were then sat down in order in the top of the ninth to conclude the game. 

On Deck
Lindenwood returns home to continue conference play against Western Illinois this weekend. Game one against the Leathernecks is set for 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10th.