Late Rally Falls Short as Sandburg Edges Lincoln-Way West Baseball 7-6

The Lincoln-Way West varsity baseball team staged a resilient three-run rally in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game, but host Sandburg pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the frame to claim a 7-6 walk-off conference victory on Wednesday afternoon.

Trailing 6-3 entering their final turn at bat, the Warriors (25-26) capitalized on situational hitting and aggressive baserunning to plate three runs, leveling the score at 6-6. The momentum shifted back to Sandburg in the bottom of the seventh, however, when the home team managed a pair of hits and utilized a fielding error to score the decisive, unearned run and end the contest.

Quinten Lange powered the Lincoln-Way West offense, finishing 2-for-4 with a game-high three RBIs and two stolen bases. Jackson Mansker served as a consistent spark plug, reaching base three times while going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Michael Pettit also set the table efficiently, contributing a hit, a walk, and two runs. Jacob Howard chipped in with an RBI single, while Peyton Globke recorded a pinch-hit single in his lone at-bat. Owen Chudzinski added to the run production with a sacrifice fly.

On the mound, starter Jackson Heinlen pitched to contact and carried the load for the Warriors. He worked 5.2 innings, striking out three while allowing 12 hits and six earned runs without issuing a single walk. Chudzinski provided a strong bridge in relief, striking out two batters and yielding just one hit over two-thirds of an inning. Reliever Luke Gouty took the tough-luck loss, surrendering two hits and the unearned winning run in his brief third of an inning.

Despite playing clean defense for most of the afternoon, the Warriors were ultimately undone by Sandburg’s relentless 15-hit attack. Lincoln-Way West will look to bounce back and translate its late-game offensive execution into the remainder of the conference schedule.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Scoring Drives

• 1st Inning:

  • Sandburg: 1 run scored.

• 2nd Inning:

  • Lincoln-Way West: 1 run scored.

  • Sandburg: 1 run scored.

• 5th Inning:

  • Sandburg: 1 run scored.

• 6th Inning:

  • Lincoln-Way West: 2 runs scored.

  • Sandburg: 3 runs scored.

• 7th Inning:

  • Lincoln-Way West: 3 runs scored.

  • Sandburg: 1 run scored.

Individual Statistics

LINCOLN-WAY WEST BATTING:

• Quinten Lange: 2-4, 1 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB

• Jackson Mansker: 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB

• Michael Pettit: 1-3, 2 R, 1 BB

• Jacob Howard: 1-3, 1 RBI

• Carson Paulas: 1-4

• Peyton Globke: 1-1, 1 R

• Owen Chudzinski: 0-2, 1 RBI

• Team Totals: .250 AVG, 7 H, 6 R, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K

LINCOLN-WAY WEST PITCHING:

• Jackson Heinlen: 5.2 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

• Owen Chudzinski: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

• Luke Gouty: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (L, 0-1)

SANDBURG TOTALS:

• Batting/Fielding: 7 R, 15 H, 3 Errors