Lindenwood senior Michael Ward had four hits and four RBIs, including his third home run of the season, to lead the Lions’ doubleheader sweep over Drury, Friday night at the Lou Brock Sports Complex. (Photo courtesy: Lindenwood Athletics)
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drury | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 3 |
| Lindenwood | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | X | 11 | 11 | 2 |
W: Logan Caten (6-0) L: Logan Pittman (4-2)
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drury | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| Lindenwood | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | X | 7 | 9 | 1 |
W: Ryan O’Connell (7-3) L: Mason Meeks (4-3)
Torrance Terrell
Staff Writer
ST. CHARLES, MO — The Lindenwood University men’s baseball team got back on the winning track, with a pair of key victories over Great Lakes Valley Conference Green Division leading, Drury University, Friday night at the Lou Brock Sports Complex.
Lindenwood came into the night needing a win badly, after suffering three straight losses to crosstown rival UMSL last weekend. But in typical ‘never say die’ Lindenwood fashion, the Lions rallied to win Game 1, 11-8, then took the nightcap, 7-2.
Senior first baseman Michael Ward was the hitting star of the day for Lindenwood, after combining for four hits in the two games — two in each game — including his third home run of the season in Game 1.
Ward also had four total RBIs — two in each game — and scored two runs as well.
The first game of the day was a back and forth contest that saw the Lions jump out to a 6-0 lead after just two innings. Drury rallied in the middle innings and went ahead 8-7 after the top half of the sixth inning.
Fortunately, Lindenwood put together a rally of its own, by scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth to re-take the lead for good. The first run that tied the score, came on a line-shot single by Calvin Nowak that scored Will Lanxon.
The run that gave the Lions the lead, came in on an error on a pickoff attempt by Drury pitcher Logan Pittman. The final run of the sixth came in on a single by Jack Meyer that scored Nowak, who had advanced to second on the previous error.
Ward closed out the scoring with an RBI double down the left field line, that narrowly missed being his second homer of the night. Sophomore lefty Logan Katen (6-0) pitched the final 3 1/3 innings to get the win.
In Game 2, senior righthander Ryan O’Connell (7-3) pitched six innings and only allowed six hits and one earned run, with seven strikeouts and three walks, to pick up his team-leading seventh win of the season.
At the plate, four different Lindenwood players had at least two hits, including Lanxon, Meyer, Ward, and freshman Ambrose Russo. Senior Kolby Schulte had three RBIs to also spark the Lion offense.
The two wins lifted Lindenwood’s season record to 21-17, and 10-7 in GLVC league play. Drury fell to 28-11 on the year and 13-5 in conference play. The two teams will play another doubleheader on Saturday at the Lou Brock Sports Complex.
The first game of the day is scheduled to begin at noon, with first pitch for Game 2 set for 3 p.m.