JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – After a month on the road to start the season, the Lincoln University baseball team will be able to finally have their home opener when they host St. Mary’s with a Heartland Conference doubleheader set to begin a 12 p.m. Friday.
St. Mary’s (11-6, 10-6 HC) currently sits in third place in the conference, having won their last two games, as the Rattlers defeated Arkansas-Ft. Smith, 4-1, this past Wednesday and before that, taking two of three from the top team in the conference Incarnate Word, including a dominant 23-7 run-rule victory in the final game of the series.
The Rattlers took six of seven from the Blue Tigers last season, with Lincoln winning one of the four in Jefferson City last year.
St. Mary’s is powered offensively by a pair of players currently hitting over .400, with Josh McElroy leading the way with a .418 batting average, to go along with two triples, a home run and 12 RBI. James Hipp isn’t far behind, currently holding a .412 batting average, five doubles, a triple and six RBI.
On the mound, right-hander Alfonso Maldonado has been almost unhittable, holding a 0.56 ERA, 2-2 record, four complete games, a shutout and 36 strikeouts in 32 innings on the mound.
Lincoln (3-12, 3-12 HC) will counter with their top hitter batting-average wise in junior shortstop/pitcher James Johndrow, who leads the team with a .306 batting average, two doubles and two RBI. Johndrow has also been solid on the mound as well, having tallied two saves and a 2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings. Junior left fielder Gus Durst has also had a solid start to the season, holding a .289 batting average, five doubles and the team’s only home run, to go along with four RBI.
Sophomore left-hander Chris Pfau has tallied the most innings on the mound, having hurled 24.2 innings, 20 strikeouts and a 4.01 ERA.
Lincoln will open their three-game set with St. Mary’s with the first pitch of the doubleheader set for 12 p.m. today at the LU Baseball Field. For the first time, fans will be able to follow the action through the live stats link below.