The Lindenwood baseball team defeated No.12 Emporia State, who was also the top-seed in the region, by a final score of 12-11 in a wild game on Saturday in Emporia, Kan.
 
The Lions stood on the back of Connor Law who threw the final 7 2/3 innings in a 13-inning affair as he allowed just two runs and earned his sixth win of the season.  Conor Behrens led the squad with four RBI on two hits as nine Lindenwood hitters registered at least one hit and six players had a multi-hit day.  The two teams combined for a total 34 hits, five home runs, and 18 runners left on base.
 
Lindenwood started the game hot as Drew Quinones belted a two-run shot to centerfield after a two-out double by Ryan Sosnowski.  The Lions added to their lead in the second inning after Paul Sherwood laid down a sacrifice bunt for an RBI and Wes Degener hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-0 lead.  Quinones hit a one-out single in the third inning and was driven in on a triple by Kyle Teter.  During his slide into third base, Teter was able to advance home on a throwing error to make it a commanding 6-0 lead for the Lions.
 
Emporia State came roaring back and strung together nine runs in a span of three innings to take a 9-6 lead after the sixth inning.  Behrens tied the game in the top of the eighth with a three-run blast to left center to make it a 9-9 ballgame.  The Hornets put the pressure on after scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a two-run advantage.
 
The Lions pulled within on run in the top of the ninth after Sherwood crossed the plate, and Quinones smashed a double to left center and drove in the tying run.  Both Emporia State and Lindenwood struggled to get a run to score in extra innings until 13th frame.  Behrens was able to leg out an infield single allowing Brett Andersen to score the go-ahead run.  Law shut down the Hornets in his appearance as Emporia State did not score a run in the final five innings of play.
 
Lindenwood improves to 37-18 on the year while the Hornets fall to 42-12 on the season.  The Lions will play at 11 a.m. on Sunday against the winner of the Minnesota State vs. St. Cloud State game in Emporia, Kan.

 

A great game on Saturday resulted in a victory for @LULIONSBASEBALL pic.twitter.com/o5aYqedQgJ

— Lindenwood Athletics (@LU_Lions) May 20, 2017