WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
@Lindenwood 11, Bradley 6
Belmont 11,
@Tennessee Tech 7
LINDENWOOD 11, BRADLEY 6
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood baseball team (8-9, 0-0 OVC) defeated Bradley (4-12, 0-0 MVC) 11-6 on Wednesday afternoon to complete the two-game sweep against the Braves. The Lions scored seven unanswered runs to end the game.
The LU offense was led by William Zareh with three hits – including a home run – and four RBIs. Mathew Graf also posted three hits, going 3-4 with a pair of RBIs.
Tyler Ellis recorded a multi-hit outing as well, going 2-5 with a double, home runs, and run batted in.
The Lions utilized seven different pitchers, with the final five combining to allow zero runs on just two hits as Jack Werkowitch got credited with his first career win.
After both teams stranded runners in scoring position in the first without scoring, Bradley took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second with Anthony Martinez scoring from third on a wild pitch before an Anthony Martinez base hit brought home Jack Holubowski. However, an unconventional double play on an infield fly got Lindenwood out of the inning without any additional damage.
The Lions got one back in the bottom of the third as a Will Geary single to center field allowed Matt Graf to score from second base. Lindenwood would pull ahead one inning later with a William Zareh two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 4-2 with Matt Graf RBI groundout that plated Tyler Ellis.
Bradley pulled back ahead in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with zero outs before a Garcia single up the middle tied the game. Hayden Miller would then score on a ground out before a Holubowski single brought in Garcia from third to make it 6-4.
Jake Radosevich scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth before a Tyler Ellis solo homer off the left field foul pole in the sixth tied the game at six runs apiece. Lindenwood had an opportunity to extend the lead further in the seventh, but left the bases loaded without scoring any runs.
The missed opportunity proved inconsequential, however, as Lindenwood scored five runs in the eighth inning to break the game open. The Lions brought their entire lineup to the plate in the inning, with Ethan Cantareira, William Zareh, and Mathew Graf all recording RBIs.
Easton Rakers retired the Bradley side in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win for Lindenwood.
BELMONT 11, TENNESSEE TECH 7
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech produced 11 hits and scored in five different innings Wednesday afternoon, but Belmont pulled away with a big middle inning to hand the Golden Eagles an 11-7 setback at Quillen Field at Bush Stadium.
As a result, Tennessee Tech moved to 7-10 on the season, while Belmont also improved to 7-10 overall.
The Golden Eagles struck first in the opening frame when Landon Smelser tripled to right-center and came home on a groundout by Connor Crowson to give Tech a 1-0 lead.
Tech added another run in the third as Jorsixt Jimenez reached and later scored on a throwing error after advancing to third on the play, tying the contest at 2-2.
Smelser continued to pace the offense, finishing 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Jimenez added two hits and two runs. Owen Lee also recorded two hits and drove in a run.
Belmont used a six-run fifth inning to open up the game, but the Golden Eagles continued to battle back throughout the afternoon. In the fifth, Smelser singled to start the frame before Lee delivered a base hit and Eddie Garza was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and trim the deficit.
Lee provided another highlight in the seventh inning, launching a solo home run — his fourth of the season — to make it an 11-4 contest.
Tech mounted one final push in the ninth. Jimenez tripled to left field to plate Crowson, Garza followed with a sacrifice fly, and Nash Crowell ripped an RBI double down the left-field line to cap a three-run inning for the Golden Eagles.
Crowell finished with two hits and an RBI, while Garza drove in two runs for Tennessee Tech, which totaled 11 hits in the contest.