JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Parkside Rangers swept a Friday doubleheader from Lincoln University of Missouri at Vivion Field, rolling to a 12-2 victory in the opener before securing an 11-7 win in Game 2 behind timely hitting and strong pitching performances.
 
Game 1
Parkside Baseball rolled to a 12-2 victory over Lincoln University of Missouri on Friday afternoon at Vivion Field, using a six-run fifth inning and a dominant start from K. Waters to secure the win.

Parkside wasted no time setting the tone in the top of the first. After Dylan Sayles worked a walk and Benjamin Loyd singled and stole second, Trace Kirchberg ripped a single through the left side to score both runners and give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, Josh Wicker grounded out to second to bring home Kirchberg, pushing the advantage to 3-0.

The Rangers added to their lead in the third. Kirchberg was hit by a pitch and Joe Mrowiec drew a walk before Wicker delivered again, lining an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0.

Lincoln broke through in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI fielder's choice, trimming the deficit to 4-1, but Parkside responded with its biggest inning of the game in the fifth.

Nolan Maciejewski started the rally with a walk, and after a pitching change, Benjamin Loyd walked and both runners executed a double steal to move into scoring position.

Kirchberg walked to load the bases, and Mrowiec drew an RBI walk to make it 5-1. Moments later, Wicker blew the game open with a towering grand slam to left field, scoring Mrowiec, Kirchberg, and Loyd to give Parkside a commanding 9-1 lead. The Rangers weren't done, as John Wubben walked and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Sayles, stretching the margin to 10-1.

Parkside tacked on two more runs in the sixth. Wicker singled to right before Wubben doubled to left-center to plate him. Angel Rades followed with a walk, and Nathan Hanel delivered an RBI single to center to cap the scoring at 12-1.

Lincoln added a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to account for the final 12-2 score.

On the mound, Keegan Waters (1-1) was sharp, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing just two hits and one earned run. He struck out six and worked out of multiple traffic situations, including stranding runners in the third. Joe Suokko allowed one run over an inning of relief, and Donovan Dykas closed the door with a scoreless seventh, retiring the side in order.

Offensively, Wicker led the charge, finishing 3-for-5 with six RBI, highlighted by his grand slam. Kirchberg scored three times and drove in two, while Loyd added two hits and two stolen bases. Wubben contributed a pair of hits, including a double, and Hanel chipped in an RBI single as the Rangers totaled 11 hits and 10 walks in the win.
 
Game 2
Parkside opened the scoring in the second inning. Joe Mrowiec led off with a double to left field and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jackson Lindquist. Noah Goddard brought him home with a sacrifice fly to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

The Rangers added another run in the third. After Nolan Maciejewski walked and Trace Kirchberg was hit by a pitch, John St. Clair drew an RBI walk with the bases loaded to extend the advantage to 2-0.

Parkside broke the game open in the fourth inning. Max Johnson reached and later stole second before Trace Kirchberg launched a two-run home run to left-center, pushing the lead to 4-0. Later in the frame, St. Clair drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 5-0.

Lincoln responded with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth to trim the deficit to 5-2, but the Rangers answered with a five-run sixth inning. Benjamin Loyd singled to start the rally, and after a wild pitch brought in a run, Carter Storti delivered a two-run double through the left side. Max Johnson followed with a two-run single, giving Parkside a commanding 10-2 lead.

Lincoln continued to battle back, scoring twice in the sixth and adding single runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. However, Parkside added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Maciejewski scored on a Lincoln throwing error to extend the lead to 11-6.

On the mound, Brennen Miller started and struck out six over four innings while allowing one run. Austin Grube (2-0) earned the win in relief, tossing two innings. Chase Powrozek and Isaiah Terrell provided key relief appearances, and Leo Berger closed out the game with three strikeouts in the ninth. Parkside pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts in the win.

Offensively, Maciejewski and Loyd each recorded two hits and scored twice. Kirchberg finished with two RBIs, while Storti and Johnson also drove in two runs apiece as the Rangers totaled 11 runs on 10 hits in the victory.
  UP NEXT
The Rangers will continue action against the Blue Tigers with two games tomorrow, Saturday, February 28, at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
 
For all things Parkside Baseball and links to live coverage, visit ParksideRangers.com/coverage .