In a game packed with momentum swings, Lincoln Varsity Railsplitters stormed back late and walked it off for an 11-10 win over Champaign Central.
Champaign Central came out firing, getting on the board in the first with a leadoff home run from Pipkins. They broke things open in the fourth inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple from Timmons that pushed the lead to 7-3 and gave Central full control.
But Lincoln chipped away.
The Railsplitters answered in the third with a big two-run single from Kane Komnick, then continued to close the gap in the fifth. Cooper Koehler and Bryce Vlahovich delivered key RBI singles, and Chase March tied the game at 7-7 with a clutch hit to center.
Lincoln grabbed the lead in the sixth when Owen Comstock came through with an RBI single, putting the Railsplitters up 8-7.
Still, Champaign Central wasn’t done.
In the top of the seventh, Central surged back ahead behind a two-run single from Timmons and another run-scoring play to make it 10-8. With their backs against the wall, Lincoln delivered one final rally.
In the bottom of the seventh, Grady Rutledge came through with a two-run single to tie the game at 10-10. Moments later, Owen Comstock stepped up again and delivered the biggest hit of the night—a walk-off RBI single to center field that scored Austin Lucas and completed the comeback in dramatic fashion.
A game that looked in hand for Champaign Central turned into a resilient, never-quit performance from Lincoln, who had the final answer when it mattered most.
Top Performers
Lincoln Varsity Railsplitters
- Owen Comstock: Walk-off RBI single, multiple RBI, key late-game hero
- Grady Rutledge: Game-tying 2-RBI single in the 7th
- Bryce Vlahovich: RBI single, run scored
- Cooper Koehler: RBI single, run scored
- Chase March: Game-tying RBI earlier in comeback
Champaign Central
- Timmons: Bases-clearing triple, 4+ RBI, 2-run single in 7th
- Pipkins: Leadoff home run
- B McDaniel: RBI single
- Krone: RBI single
