Loggers Split at ICC, Win Series 3-1
 

The Lincoln Land baseball team had their ten game winning streak come to an end on Sunday against Illinois Central College, dropping the four game series finale 8-6.  The Loggers defeated the Cougars 5-3 in game one, securing the three games to one Midwest Athletic Conference series win.
 
In game one, right fielder Jonathan Walder (1 for 2) put the Loggers on top 2-0 in the top of the first inning with his single to left field that scored Rick Dour and Xavier Collier.  LLCC scored two more runs in their half of the third inning for a 4-0 lead.  Collier doubled and scored on shortstop Nick Maton's single.  Maton also came around to score in the inning on catcher Michael Ryan's sacrifice fly.  Lincoln Land added their fifth and final insurance run in the top of the fifth when Collier scored for the third time in the game on Maton's sacrifice fly to left.  Collier finished the game 3 for 3.
 
Freshman righty Matt Steinhoff started for the Loggers on the mound, getting a no decision for his four inning effort.  Steinhoff allowed only one earned run on two hits and five walks, he struck out four.  Sophmore Noah Kesselmayer was awarded the win, pitching two scoreless innings of relief, he allowed only two hits and also struck out four. Closer Nick Maton pitched a scoreless seventh to earn his fourth save of the season. 
 
LLCC (13-2) simply couldn't muster enough offense in the nightcap to finish the series sweep.  The Loggers offense  combined for twelve strikeouts in the 8-6 loss, only their second of the season.  Collier and Maton accounted for all four Logger hits, collecting two apiece.  Collier was 2 for 3 with two doubles and three RBIs. 
 
Cougar Catcher Austin Ulick smacked two 2-run homeruns to lead ICC, the second one tying the game 6-6 in the fifth inning off Logger reliever Rick Dour.  Dour (1-1) suffered the loss, he pitched four innings allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits, one hit batter, and four strike outs.
 
"We lost our aggressiveness at the plate is that second game today, thought we let them off the hook early and probably should have won that game," coach Riggle said after the games.  " But this conference is tough and sweeping a four game set is hard to do.  I'm still proud of the team's performance this weekend and happy to be going home with a series win."
 
Lincoln Land is now 3-1 in the MWAC.  They will resume action next weekend against Danville Community College in a four game series.