HARRISON -- Central Arkansas Christian pushed across four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, spoiling Lincoln's bid for an upset and ending the Wolves' season with a 5-4 loss.
Lincoln fell one game short of the state quarterfinals Thursday while competing in the Class 3A State baseball tournament held at Harrison Parks & Recreation Complex.
Lincoln's defeat meant all four teams from Region 1 exited in the first-round at state. Baptist Prep beat Charleston, 6-2; Booneville edged Elkins, 6-5; and Benton Harmony Grove ousted West Fork, 12-4.
The Wolves seeded fourth out of Region 1 proved a tough out. Lincoln scored one run in the top of the first and another in the top of third innings to take a 2-0 lead. CAC cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Lincoln answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth and appeared on the verge of advancing before a late CAC rally.
Lincoln ended its 2019 season, the first for Reed Mendoza as head coach, with a 12-22 mark and 4-6 in conference. The Wolves came together in postseason winning three games in the District 3A-1 West tournament at Greenland and playing their way into the Regional 1 tournament as a No. 2 seed.
West Fork was supposed to host the Regional tournament, but Lincoln's field was in better shape after heavy rainfall across northwest Arkansas and Regional baseball was moved to Lincoln. The Wolves again rose to the challenge, upending Valley Springs, No. 3 seed from the 3A-1 East, which gave them their first state tournament berth since qualifying for the 2013 State 4A baseball tournament.
BASEBALL
CLASS 3A
At Harrison Parks & Recreation
Thursday
Ashdown 4, Gosnell 1
Booneville 6, Elkins 5
Benton Harmony Grove 12, West Fork 4
CAC 5, Lincoln 4
Genoa Central 12, Cave City 1
Manila 12, Fouke 7
Baptist Prep 6, Charleston 2
DeWitt 8, Piggott 2
Friday
Harmony Grove 10, Ashdown 6
Manila 7, Baptist Prep 2
CAC 5, Genoa Central 2
Booneville 5, DeWitt 3
Monday
Semifinal Harmony Grove vs. Manila
Semifinal Booneville vs. CAC
Championship
TBD vs. TBD
Sports on 05/15/2019