For the third consecutive season the Lindenwood Lion baseball team finished on top of the HAAC standings after a 10-3 win in the second game of a doubleheader against Culver-Stockton on Wednesday afternoon in Canton, Mo. The Lions finished with a record of 20-8 in conference play which tied Avila and William Jewell for the top spot. Culver-Stockton did manage to win game one 5-3.
The opening game of the day saw the Lions jump out to a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. But the bottom of the inning was all Wildcats as the home team would bring across five runs to take a 5-3 lead.
Lindenwood would threaten in the sixth inning, loading the bases for Zach Malawey but the threat would end as he would lineout to first base. The Lions would go in order in the seventh and fall to Culver-Stockton, 5-3.
Randy Serrato started and pitched 3 1/3 innings, surrendering five runs on six hits. Shelby Anderson and Carlos Pianetta each had two hits in four at-bats to lead the offense.
In the final game of the day, the Lions would jump out early as the visitors scored four in the first and three in the third to take a 7-0 lead. The offense wasn't done as it would score two more in the fourth and another in the fifth to take a 10-1 lead. The Wildcats would muster two runs in the sixth inning but would fall to the Lions, 10-3.
Evan Vinyard continued his stellar junior season recording his ninth win while throwing 5 2/3 innings and striking out 11. Cody Anderson led the Lion offense going 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and two runs scored. Shelby Anderson also homered while Frank Corpus drove in a pair of runs.
The Lions ended the regular season with an overall record of 38-14 and a conference mark of 20-8. Up next is the HAAC Tournament which begins Wednesday, May 4th in St. Joseph, Mo.
