MEMPHIS-Visiting Lindenwood swept a non-conference doubleheader from the Christian Brothers University Bucs Wednesday afternoon at Nadicksbernd Field.
GAME 1:WHAT HAPPENED:The Lions (4-0) scored five runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good en route to an 8-4 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• The Bucs (4-5) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning.
Michael Halley (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) worked a leadoff walk, and
Caleb Goodwin (Shreveport, La./Evangel Christian Academy) launched a two-out, two-run homer to center field to put the Bucs on the board.
• Lindenwood strung four hits together to plate a run in the top of the second inning.
• CBU added two more in the bottom of the third.
Nick Traylor (Germantown, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) drew a leadoff walk, and
Michael Halley (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) reached on an error. After a
Mickey Smith (Arlington, Tenn./Arlington HS) sacrifice bunt, Goodwin hit a two-out, two-run single to center to give the Bucs a 4-1 edge.
• The Lions converted two hit batters, a walk, two singles and two doubles into five runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead for good.
• Lindenwood set the final margin with two more in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of two singles, an error, a hit batter and a walk, all with two outs.
KEY STATS:• Goodwin was 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI.
• Halley was 0-for-2 but drew two walks and scored twice.
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Cale Alexander (Bartlett, Tenn./Tipton-Rosemark Academy) and
Gil Erwin (Covington, Tenn./Tipton-Rosemark Academy) each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
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Jack Parker (Shreveport, La./Evangel Christian Academy) threw two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief.
GAME 2:WHAT HAPPENED:The Lions jumped to an 8-0 lead in the first two innings, and the Bucs came within a run but Lindenwood held on for an 11-9 lead in a game called after five innings due to darkness.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• Lindenwood scored five runs in the first inning on three singles, three walks, an error and a Rayce Singbush grand slam.
• The Lions added three more in the top of the second on a walk, an error and two doubles.
• CBU broke through with a one-out rally in the bottom of the inning.
Riley Kilgore (Cordova, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) and
Casey Goodwin (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) drew back-to-back walks, and
Lucas Castleberry (Bryant, Ark./Bryant HS) followed with an RBI double. Halley singled Goodwin home, and Smith hit an RBI single to score Castleberry. A wild throw on Smith's single brought Halley home and cut the deficit to 8-4.
• Lindenwood scored two more runs in the top of the third, on a two-out single followed by back-to-back doubles.
• The Bucs exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third inning. Caleb Goodwin and
Christian Halterman (Dyersburg, Tenn./Dyer County HS) started the inning with back-to-back singles. With one out, Casey Goodwin hit an RBI double to right, and Castleberry was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Halterman, and Traylor followed with a two-run double to cut the deficit to 10-8. Traylor moved to third on a wild pitch, and he scored on a Halley sacrifice fly.
• After both teams were retired in order in the fourth inning, the Lions set the final margin with a run in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of a Wes Degener single, a wild pitch and aggressive baserunning on a dropped third strike, with Degener scoring from second when the Bucs threw to first.
KEY STATS:• Smith went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
• Halley was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBI.
• Traylor was 1-for-3 with a run and two RBI.
• Castleberry and Casey Goodwin were each 1-for-2 with two runs and one RBI.
WHAT'S NEXT:The Bucs hit the road this weekend for a GSC series at Valdosta State. Saturday's doubleheader begins at noon, with a single game set for Sunday at noon. The Bucs return home next Wednesday at 1 p.m. as they host Calumet-St. Joseph.
