The Lincoln Cardinals were invited to play at Hammons Field, the home of the Springfield Cardinals on Friday, March 22, against Mansfield.
Lincoln head coach Will Lynde commented, "It was an opportunity of a lifetime for these kids to play on a professional baseball field. We wish to thank Hammons and Mansfield for the gracious invitation."
For most of the contest, it looked like the Cardinals would come away with a victory. However, sadly, for the second game in a row, Lincoln faltered late and this time lost 5-4 in eight innings after leading 4-0 going into the sixth. The Lions scored two in the sixth and two in the seventh to tie the game in regulation.
Temperatures didn't help either side as the wind blew and the fans already wrapped in blankets, felt the temperature drop several degrees before the game ended.
Coach Lynde thought they played well in spite of committing 5 errors, giving up 8 walks and 7 stolen bases.
The line was 4-6-5 for Lincoln and 5-6-1 for Mansfield.
The defensive play of the game for the Cardinals came in the third as center fielder Jayden Kelly fielded a double and hit his cutoff, shortstop Dawson Parrott, who fired a perfect strike to catcher Zaden Cole who blocked the plate and tagged out Kaden Coble, who never touched the plate.
"It was textbook," Coach Lynde said.
Lincoln scored in the first on a groundout by Cam Everhart. Riley Sanders drove in 2 on a double in the fourth and scored on a single by Hunter Vandaveer. Everhart was caught stealing third to end the inning.
Sanders started on the mound going 3 scoreless innings, giving up 1 hit, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts, a wild pitch and a hit batter.
Parrott pitched 2.1 innings giving up 2 runs on 2 hits, 2 walks, striking out 2.
Chance Koll came in for the last 2 frames. The Lions scored 2 in the sixth and 2 in the seventh. The tying run came with 2 outs on a fly ball that Kelly traveled to shallow right, slid, but couldn't hang on. The score keeper gave him a questionable error.
In the bottom of the eighth, Judd Watterman was hit, stole second, advanced to third on a single and scored on an infield error by Lincoln to end the game.
Lincoln fell to 2-2 on the young season.
