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 The home team jumped on the Heat early, taking a 5-0 lead in the
first inning. But Lincoln battled back, scoring two runs in the
second.
Deegan Aeilts started the rally with a walk and a stolen base,
scoring on a scorching line drive base hit by Warren Tomczak. After
another hard hit ball by Tate Johnston moved Tomczak around to
third, Kyle Gellner brought him in with an RBI groundout. The Heat
defense also came to life, helping starting pitcher Johnston hold
the Sages scoreless in the second and third innings.
Lincoln continued to claw its way back in the third and fourth
innings, cutting the lead to 5-4 as Jude Toft and Tomczak led off
each respective inning with a hit, eventually coming around to score
on an RBI groundout from Drew Hayes and a sacrifice fly from Aaron
Roede.
 The Sages added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth to make
the score 6-4 before the Heat showed their resilience again in the
fifth and final inning.
Kyle Koehler led off with a walk, followed by another for Toft. They
each moved over on a double steal, putting them at second and third
with one out and a two-run deficit with Parker Graue at the plate.
Graue delivered with a sharp single, scoring both runners and tying
the game at six. Two more walks loaded the bases, moving Graue to
third, where he scored on a pitch that got away from the catcher,
giving Lincoln a 7-6 lead heading to the bottom of the last inning.
Monticello got the tying run on base to lead off their half of the
fifth, and he eventually made it all the way to third before Hayes
settled in on the mound and struck out the next three batters,
preserving the 7-6 win for the Heat.
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Unfortunately, the Sages came back strong in the nightcap, scoring
five runs in each of the first three innings.
Lincoln fought back in the third with lead-off walks from Roede,
Dyllan Ferguson, and Koehler to load the bases with no outs. Toft
grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Roede and then stole
second, allowing Graue to drive in Ferguson and Toft with his third
hit of the day. Hayes followed with a hit and stolen base as he and
Graue came around to score on a hit from Aeilts, cutting the lead to
10-5.
The Sages piled on five more to stretch their lead to ten after
three innings. Despite a two-out hit from Gellner in the fourth, the
Sages were able to close out the game, striking out the side.
The split moves Lincoln’s record to 7-3 on the season. They will
have a little time off before returning to action in a rematch with
Monticello at home on May 24.
[Eric Graue]
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