EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE baseball got out the bats and the brooms Sunday, banging out 14 hits en route to an 11-8 win and a series sweep of Lindenwood at Simmons Baseball Complex.
The Cougars hit three home runs Sunday as they swept their third OVC series of the year. The Cougars have now hit 80 home runs, the second most in a season in their Division I history.
SIUE remained tied for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference at 15-6 while improving to 27-21 overall. The 27 wins matches the most wins for SIUE under Head Coach Sean Lyons.
Lindenwood dropped to 10-11 in the OVC and 25-22 overall.
The Lions got a three-run home run from Fillip Sarota in the first inning to lead 3-0.
The Cougars answered with a run in the bottom of the inning and then a four-run second, which included Ryan Niedzwiedz's league-leading 21st home run of the year-a three-run shot to give the Cougars a 5-3 lead.
It was 6-4 SIUE after a Niedzwiedz RBI single in the fourth inning. Cooper Eggert led off the sixth with a home run, his second of the series, to extend the lead to 7-4.
Lindenwood took an 8-7 lead with a four-run seventh inning, but SIUE responded with three in the bottom of the inning. Joshua Heyder led off with his 11th home run of the year to dead center field and Sean Kang and Eggert each added RBI hits in the inning.
Ethan Wiloughby topped off the scoring with an RBI-double which skipped over the left field fence in the eighth inning. Willoughby led the Cougars with three hits.
Noah Johnson (2-3) pitched the final 2.1 innings giving up a hit and striking out three to earn the win.
Easton Rakers (2-3) allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning in relief and suffered the loss.
SIUE outhit Lindenwood 14-9. Sarota and Will Geary each had two hits for the Lions.
The Cougars will next travel to Eastern Illinois for a three-game OVC series beginning Friday. The Panthers also are 15-6 in the OVC and tied for first with the Cougars.
