The Lincoln Cardinals went on the road and defeated the conference tournament champs the Northwest Mustangs 8-6 on Monday.
Lincoln pitcher Riley Sanders pitched well leading 8-1 but faltered late giving up 5 runs in the seventh before Hunter Vandaveer shut the door with a strike out to seal the deal for the Cardinals.
Lincoln got on the board in the top of the first inning after hard-hitting Camden Everhart doubled to center field, and Northwest committed an error, and runs scored on each play.
The Cardinals added to their early lead in the top of the second inning when Chance Koll doubled in two runs and he scored himself after tagging up.
Northwest smelled the comeback with five runs on three hits in the bottom of the seventh inning. Levi Klein drew a bases loaded walk that forced in one run, an error scored one run, Connor Thorp doubled and scored two runs, and one run scored on another play.
Sanders allowed six hits and six runs (one earned) over six and two-thirds innings, struck out 12 and walked two.
Cooper White stepped on the mound first for Northwest. The starting pitcher surrendered six hits and five runs (four earned) over three and one-third innings, struck out three and walked four.
Connor Thorp provided the muscle in the middle of the lineup and led Northwest with three runs batted in. The cleanup hitter went 3 for 4 on the day.
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On Saturday Lincoln played two games in Sedalia.
Cam Everhart collected three hits in three at bats, as the Cardinals defeated arch rival, the Sacred Heart Gremlins, 5-1. Everhart, who is finishing up his high school baseball career rather nicely, hit a solo home run to center field in the fourth inning, singled in the fifth inning, and singled in the seventh inning.
Jayden Pruitt singled down the right field line following a 9-pitch at-bat, which helped Sacred Heart tie the game at one in the bottom of the fourth.
The Cardinals took the lead in the top of the fifth inning after Riley Sanders doubled to center field.Everhart singled down the right field line, and a Blake Lyon single all scored one run.
Hunter Vandaveer stepped on the mound first for Cardinals. The starter allowed eight hits and one run over seven innings, struck out four and walked one.
Colt Conardy led things off on the hill for Sacred Heart. The righty surrendered two hits and one run over three and one-third innings, struck out three and walked five.
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In the second game, the Wheatland Mules defeated Lincoln 9-1, thanks in part to a six run fourth inning.
A ground out by Andrew Dougherty put Wheatland on the board in the top of the first.
The Mules added one run in the third. Braden Sawyer singled down the left field line, making the score 2-0.
Wheatland scored six runs on five hits in the top of the fourth inning. Avery Ohrazda singled to score one run, Andrew Murphy doubled in two runs, Brock Mendenhall grounded out to score a run, Andrew Murphy scored after tagging up, and Brett Dougherty singled in another run.
Riley Sanders led things off on the hill for Cardinals. The right-handed pitcher surrendered five hits and seven runs (five earned) over three innings, struck out one and walked two.
Avery Ohrazda stepped on the mound first for the Mules. The starter allowed five hits and one run over six innings, struck out four and walked one.
The Cardinals are now 11-13.
