Railsplitters take down Dragons 4-1
[April 25, 2026]
Grady Rutledge was on the mound Friday afternoon for the
Railsplitters and he had a stellar performance against the Pekin
Dragons. Rutledge threw five and one-third innings of shutout
baseball, allowing just three hits and two walks. He struck out six
batters.
The Railsplitters also came through with early run support for
Rutledge, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
After two really quick outs to start the inning, the Railsplitters
loaded the bases. Rutledge and Owen Comstock each drew walks while
Cooper Koehler was hit by a pitch. Bryce Vlahovich smashed the
second pitch he saw for a bases-clearing triple to right field,
giving Lincoln the early 3-0 advantage.
In the second inning Rutledge gave himself a little more breathing
room with an RBI double to left field. Karson Komnick scored on
Rutledge’s hit. The inning ended with Rutledge trying to stretch the
hit into a triple but he was tagged out at third.
Rutledge hit a little bump in the road in the top of the sixth
inning when he gave up a lead-off single, then he hit a batter and
finally, he issued a walk. Luckily, the lead-off hitter in the
inning was caught stealing by Komnick and when Carson Fuiten took
the mound in relief, he induced a double play to get the
Railsplitters out of any danger.
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Fuiten gave up three singles and run in the top of
the seventh inning but a strikeout and a double play to end the game
allowed Lincoln to hang on for the 4-1 win.
Fuiten earned the save.
Lincoln’s three hits in the game came from Rutledge, Vlahovich and
Kane Komnick.
Boston Powell was the losing pitcher for Pekin.
Lincoln (12-7) will host Decatur MacArthur on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
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