Lindenwood softball dropped a weekend series against Ohio Valley Conference rival SEMO, winning only one of the three weekend games.
The win came in the first of the three games, with the Lions scoring three runs to the Redhawks one, with each of the runs being scored in the fifth inning. Mya Bethany got the scoring started, singling in Madisen Noll. The next batter, Nicole Henson, drove a sacrifice fly to left field, chasing home Anna Sanders. Bethany would come around to score a batter later, as Jolie McMinn singled to right field.
“I feel like we were ready to play, we played very well,” coach Chris Iliopoulos said. “Our pitching staff makes it very easy for our offense to operate. We can compete with the best, and we can execute with the best.”
On the mound, the combination of Ryleigh Owens and Avery Wapp shutdown the Redhawks offense. Owens went four innings, striking out four batters, allowing only one hit and four runs. Wapp finished out the last two innings, striking out three and not allowing any base runners.
In game two, the Lions were only able to muster one run on four hits. The dagger for Lindenwood pitching came in the form of a three-run home run by Gracie Luna off of Lucy Pratt in the fifth inning. All of SEMO’s runs came across the plate in the fifth.
The Monday game saw a pitchers duel, with SEMO coming out on top 2-1. Wapp allowed a run in the first and another in the sixth, paving the way for the Redhawks win. The Lions kicked together some offense in the late innings, as a double by Irelynn West nearly scored pinch runner Hanna Johanning, but umpire review put her back at third base. The Lions were able to capitalize on one run in the inning regardless, with Danielle Franz driving in Johanning with a single.
“I think as the season goes on, it kind of wears on you,” Owens said. “Everybody still shows up and is ready to compete everyday. Everybody has a role on this team, so just making sure you show up and do your best and making sure everyone is coming together.”
The team now falls to 16-18 on the season, including a 7-8 record in conference play. The team plays Western Illinois in a three game series this weekend, April 12-13.
