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 Lincoln jumped out on top early in game one when Jude Toft led off
with a walk, stole second and third, and scored on a ground-out by
Drew Hayes. They added three more runs in the second inning on
consecutive hits by Kyle Gellner, Aaron Roede, and Dyllan Ferguson,
followed by a hit from Toft.
Mt. Zion came back with a couple runs of their own in the bottom
half of the second on two walks and a pair of hits, but starting
pitcher Parker Graue got out of the bases-loaded jam with his third
strikeout, preserving the 4-2 Heat lead.
Lincoln added two more in the third on four straight singles by
Deegan Aeilts, Tate Johnston, Kyle Gellner, and Aaron Roede. Brady
Miller came in to pitch, holding Mt. Zion scoreless in the third.
 The Braves rallied for four in the fourth inning to tie the game
going into the last inning. But Lincoln’s Kyle Gellner came through
with his third hit of the game in the top of the fifth inning,
scoring Hayes and Aeilts. Hayes came in to strike out the side in
the bottom of the fifth, securing the 8-6 victory for the Heat -
their third straight win in their final at bat.
Mt. Zion turned the tables in the nightcap, scoring four runs in the
first inning. Lincoln finally responded in the third, taking a 5-4
lead as Kyle Koehler and Mason Fisher led off with walks and came
around to score when the Heat belted five consecutive singles by
Toft, Miller, Graue, Hayes, and Aeilts.
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The lead was short-lived, however, as Mt. Zion came back to score
one in the third and five in the fourth to take a 10-5 lead into the
final inning. Koehler was a spark for Lincoln again, leading off the
fifth with a walk before a single by Toft and a walk to Graue loaded
the bases for Hayes, who promptly cleared the bases with a triple. A
walk and steal by Aeilts set the table for Johnston, who singled
home Hayes and Aeilts, tying the game.
After a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the 5th, the Heat just
missed turning a double play as Hayes fielded a ground ball cleanly
and flipped to Miller, who grabbed the ball with a barehand for a
force and quick relay to first, the runner barely beating the throw.
After another walk, Mt. Zion took advantage of the close play with
their cleanup batter hitting one deep to right field and giving the
Braves an exciting 11-10 victory.
Lincoln returns to action next weekend with games Saturday in Morton
and Sunday in Monticello.
[Eric Graue]
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