Lincoln’s stunning run ends in state semifinals
Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
SEARCY - Marmaduke coach Larry Willis said his program has come a long way since losing its home field two seasons ago.
The Marmaduke Greyhounds committed five errors but held off Lincoln in the late innings for a 5-4 victory at Harding University's Jerry Moore Field on Monday in the Class 3 A State Tournament semifinals.
Marmaduke's baseball field was destroyed by a tornado in 2006, leaving the team homeless for the better part of two years. The Greyhounds played their next 49 games on the road before finally playing their final two home games of this season in their new venue.
Marmaduke qualified for the state tournament last season despite its all-road schedule. This season, the team reached the semifinals for the first time since 1989 by defeating Mayflower 18-2 in Saturday's quarterfinals.
"I guess you can call us the road warriors," Willis said.
Marmaduke (16-8 ) took advantage of Lincoln errors in the second inning. Dexter Jordan singled and scored on a three-base throwing error in the same play. Trent Smith, who had singled to get on base, scored on an error by Cody Smith on a failed pickoff attempt, and Marmaduke led 2-0.
Lincoln (20-10 ) loaded the bases to lead off the second inning, but Trent Smith struck out next three batters.
"Innings like that really kill momentum," Lincoln coach Jonathan Johnson said. "We've had situations like that a lot this year. We get people on base in scoring position, then we can't plate them."
Lincoln added a run in the fourth inning and tied Marmaduke 2-2 on an RBI single into center field by Seth Pitts in the fifth inning.
Trent Smith hit a two-run triple in the sixth inning and later scored on a single by Dane Barnum as Marmaduke reclaimed the lead 5-2.
Marmaduke nearly lost the lead in the sixth inning, committing three errors and allowing two runs, but Trent Smith was able to end the inning without further damage.
Smith (6-1 ) struck out eight batters and allowed 6 hits in a complete-game performance. Smith, who broke his foot in the last game of basketball season, joined the baseball team midway through the year.
Johnson said his team was not able to overcome its own mistakes on Monday, but he was proud of its season accomplishments. Lincoln, which had won 11 consecutive games and had entered the state tournament as a No. 1 seed, started the season with only 11 players on the roster but was reduced to 10 available players after losing one to a broken foot during the year.
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