Entering her fourth season at the helm, head coach Erin Brown welcomes back the 2024 team and new players to build off their previous OVC tournament berth and final record of 25-25.
Irelynn West headlines the group of returnees, coming off a first-team All-OVC selection from a year ago. The senior outfielder comes off a season in which she appeared in 47 games and hit .252/.311/.345 (average/on-base percentage/slugging) with 35 hits including, six doubles, two triples, and a home run. West had 10 multi-hit games drove in 19 runs and tallied 11 walks, as she will look to anchor the Lions outfield this season.
Dallis Darnell and Madison Noll return to anchor the Lions’ infield. Both appeared in 48 games a year ago. Darnell slashed .223/.273/.269 with 29 hits and eight RBIs a season ago. Darnell also comes off a very strong defensive campaign that saw her finish with a .982 field percentage and only committed two errors last season. Noll comes off a solid freshman campaign that saw her hit .216/.261/.320 with 27 hits while leading the team in home runs and driving in 15 runs throughout the year.
The Lions also welcome back first basemen Tori Hatton. Hatton appeared in 48 games and slashed .212/.283/.277 with 29 hits, two home runs, 16 RBIs, and 13 walks during her sophomore season.
Izzy Wilcox, Jolie McMinn, Lauren Pelton, Joey Meyer, Molly Heidrick, Nicole Henson, and Theresa Snaidauf also return in 2025 and will look to compete for more playing time this season.
Mya Bethany returns as the Lions leading hitter from a year ago as the fellow senior outfielder appeared in all 50 games hitting .297/.385/.338 while also leading the Lions with 48 hits and 20 walks a year ago.
In the circle, Lindenwood returns Avery Wapp, a junior from Bloomington, Illinois. Wapp comes off a 2024 campaign that saw her pitch in 33 games, starting 20 and finishing with a 9-12 record, and 3.11 earned run average (ERA) in 137.1 innings pitched. Wapp had nine complete games, and three saves a season ago while striking out 126 and walking 26. She will look to fill the shoes left by Amanda Weyh and step into that ace role for the Lions.
Lindenwood welcomes six freshmen to this 2025 squad including Madison Adams (utility, Lincoln, Nebraska), Danielle Franz (catcher, Rockton, Illinois), Teryn Brown (outfielder, Troy, Missouri), Lucy Pratt (pitcher, Monroe City, Missouri), Samantha Roulanaitis (pitcher, Smithton, Illinois), and Anna Sanders (infielder, Hampshire, Illinois).
From the transfer portal, the Lions welcome Ryleigh Owens (pitcher, Parkland College), Emily Geary (infielder, St. Charles Community College), and Kylee Crowder (utility, Pensacola State College) to the 2025 squad.
Lindenwood was picked to finish sixth in the preseason OVC poll and West was tabbed as the preseason player to watch for the Lions.
Lindenwood opens up their season on Friday, Feb. 7 at the 901 Classic tournament in Memphis, Tennessee against Hampton University with their home opener against Green Bay on February 28.
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