KYLE RHINE | Reporter

The Lindenwood baseball team dropped its second straight series over the weekend to conference opponent Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma.

After losing game one 4-3, the Lions turned things around in game two. The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning when Paul Sherwood and Wes Degener each walked with the bases loaded to score two runs. Dee Miller drove in the third run on a fielder’s choice that scored Ryan Sosnowski.

However, Central Oklahoma cut the Lions’ lead to one in the bottom of the second on a wild pitch from Lindenwood starter Tyler Cassmeyer. The Bronchos took a 4-3 lead in the next inning on a one-out double that plated two runs, which ended the outing for the Lions’ starter. Cassmeyer pitched three innings allowing four runs, three of which were earned, five walks and five strikeouts.

In the fourth inning, Sherwood grounded into a double play that scored Sosnowski, tying the game at four. Central Oklahoma would retake the lead in the fifth inning on a solo home run to left field.

The Lions answered back in the sixth inning with a three-run home run to center field off the bat of Degener, giving the Lions a 7-5 lead. For Degener, it was his first home run of the season.

Sosnowski added to the lead in the seventh inning reaching on a fielder’s choice that scored Neil Fischer as Lindenwood led 8-5 going into the eighth inning.

The Bronchos hit their second home run of the game in the eighth inning to make it 8-6 Lions, but Lindenwood’s bullpen shut them down in the ninth inning.

After Cassmeyer lasted just three innings, the bullpen was dominant on Friday. Austin Georgen and Lucas Tibbs combined to pitch for six innings ,allowing two runs and striking out five.

Unfortunately, the Lions’ offense was non-existent in game three as the Bronchos defeated Lindenwood 4-1 to take the series.

Fischer drove in the only run of the game on his solo home run in the second inning. The Lions could only muster three hits in the loss.

Andrew Eilers started on the mound lasting six and two thirds innings allowing four runs, three of which were earned. Eilers allowed five hits, three walks and set a school record with 12 strikeouts.

Following the series loss, the Lions are 14-16 and will travel tomorrow to Warrensburg, Missouri, to play conference opponent Central Missouri at 6 p.m. at Robert N. Tompkins Field.