The Parkland Cobras completed a four game conference sweep on Sunday, defeating the Loggers 7-0 and 3-2 in Champaign. Lincoln Land has now lost four games in a row, dropping their overall record to 16-7, and move to 6-6 in the Midwest Athletic Conference.
Xavier Collier collected the Loggers only hit in game one, a lead off infield single in the top of the seventh to break up Luke Smith's bid for a no hitter. Smith (3-0) dominated the Logger's offense, striking out twelve and only walking one. Freshman Matt Steinhoff (0-2) suffered the loss for Lincoln Land. Steinhoff allowed seven runs, four earned, on four hits, two walks , and struck out four. Jack Staten pitched three scoreless innings in relief for the Loggers, allowing only one hit and striking out four.
Parkland scored a run in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead in game two. Lincoln Land quickly answered in the top of the second when center fielder Aaron Steinhoff doubled and scored on right fielder Jonathan Walder's single to center. The Logger's captured their first lead of the day in the top of the third. Xavier Collier (2 for 4) drove in Nick Maton (1 for 4) with a single to center to put LLCC up 2-1.
The score would stay put until the bottom of the seventh, when Logger starting pitcher Rick Dour surrendered a two strike, two out RBI double to Cobra designated hitter Jordyn Muffley (2 for 4) that tied the game 2-2, sending the game into extra innings. Both teams went scoreless in the eighth, and the Loggers failed to score in their half of the ninth. Cobra catcher Luke Beesley reached base safely on a Logger error to start the bottom of the ninth. Beesley was advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Jonathan Brandt. After a walk to Cole Hamilton, leadoff man Corey Wright struck out for the second out of the inning, setting the stage again for Muffley. Jordyn hit an infield single, and Beesley scored from second on the throws, giving the Cobras a 3-2 walk off win.
Lincoln Land will look to find their winning ways next weekend as they travel to Indiana to take on Vincennes University in a non- conference three game series.