Lincoln Railsplitters edge out Decatur MacArthur in 3-2 CS8 win

[May 04, 2017]  In Lincoln Railsplitters versus Decatur MacArthur game on May 2, 2017, Jake Konczyk, the Railsplitters catcher gunned down a base-runner with a perfect throw in the top of the seventh inning to preserve the 3-2 Central State Eight win.

MacArthur jumped on Lincoln starter Austin Newton for a run in the first inning and added another run in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead over the home team.

Lincoln got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when Konczyk scored from third on a bunt by Preston Ebelherr.

The Railsplitters tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Andrew Yount led off the inning with a double and Noah Funk bunted him over to third. Yount scored the tying run when Newton hit a ball too short that was bobbled by the shortstop, allowing the run to score.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning with the score knotted at 2-2, Cole Sheley was hit by a pitch to get on base.

The Railsplitters kept advancing Sheley all the way to third and with two outs Brendan Eigenbrod stepped to the plate. Eigenbrod smashed a single to right field that allowed Sheley to score the go-ahead run.

MacArthur led off the top of the seventh inning with a single off Newton. Newton then struck out the next batter but a visit from the mound by Coach Mike Smania resulted in a pitching change. Nate Arnold entered the game in relief and he quickly combined with Konczyk to pull the old “strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out.”

Jake Konczyk takes a swing late in the Lincoln Railsplitters versus Decatur MacArthur game on May 2, 2017.

Just as the MacArthur batter was called out on strikes, the runner from first was going, and Konczyk popped up quickly from his crouch behind home plate and fired a strike to Funk covering second base. Funk wisely kept the tag on the base-runner, who overran the base a bit and was immediately called out by the umpire to end the game.

Austin Newton earned the win for Lincoln versus Decatur MacArthur as the Railsplitters came from behind to win 3-2. Newton had another solid effort from the mound, striking out eleven batters. 

Newton picked up the win for Lincoln. He pitched 6.1 innings and struck out eleven MacArthur batters. Arnold earned the save in relief.

The Railsplitters record is now 9-13.

[Teena Lowery]