MARION, Ill. (Interstat) — Jake Radosevich launched a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday evening, lifting the Lindenwood Lions to a 7-4 victory over the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks in the opening game of the Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship at Marion’s venue.

The Lions improved to 29-26 overall, while the Skyhawks dropped to 24-28. Despite managing only five hits, Lindenwood capitalized on five walks and two errors, including a costly fielding miscue by Skyhawks third baseman Cameron Greene in the sixth inning that opened the door for three unearned runs.

Tennessee-Martin struck first in the top of the second inning. After a double by Dunsford and a sacrifice bunt, Popick drove him in with a groundout. Greene later added a ground-rule double, but the inning ended with the Skyhawks ahead 1-0. They extended the lead in the top of the third when Grines singled, stole second, advanced on a groundout and scored on a Colten Payton single to left, making it 2-0.

Lindenwood answered in the bottom of the second. Driscoll doubled to right-center, moved to third on a flyout, and scored on a Graf groundout. Zareh doubled but was left stranded, trimming the deficit to 2-1.

The Skyhawks regained momentum in the top of the sixth. Payton led off with a ground-rule double, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a Popick bunt single. Tennessee-Martin threatened further but Greene was caught stealing to end the half-inning with a 3-1 advantage.

The Lions tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of Greene’s throwing error. Geary walked and Radosevich reached on the error, putting runners on first and second. Driscoll doubled down the right field line, scoring Geary and moving Radosevich to third. After a pitching change, Sarota lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Radosevich unearned and tying the game at 3-3.

Both teams went scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings. Lindenwood starter Josh Newell worked 8 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and four earned runs while striking out five. He exited after Greene’s solo homer in the top of the ninth, a blast to right-center that gave the Skyhawks a 4-3 lead. Aaron Jungers recorded the final out of the inning for Lindenwood.

Trailing by one in the bottom of the ninth, the Lions mounted a two-out rally. Edwards walked, Charlie walked, and Geary walked to load the bases. Tennessee-Martin made a pitching change, bringing in Gabe Bryant, who faced Radosevich. On a 1-1 count, Radosevich crushed a grand slam to left-center, his 10th home run of the season, securing the walk-off victory.

Radosevich finished 1 for 5 with four RBIs. Driscoll went 2 for 4 with an RBI. For Tennessee-Martin, Payton had three hits and an RBI, Greene homered and drove in a run, and Cason Sharp pitched five scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no hits allowed. Will Turner spun 2 2/3 innings of one-run relief in a losing effort.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tennessee-Martin 5, Lindenwood 4, but the Lions’ ELO system gave them a 58.70 percent probability to win.