Photo Credit - Manitowoc Ships Baseball
It may have taken extra innings and a walk-off double, but the Manitowoc Lincoln baseball team was able to take down an FRCC rival in front of a home crowd.
The Ships hosted Notre Dame Academy at Bruce Steinbecker Field, where they were able to sneak out a 7-6 win.
Things looked bleak for the Ships early on, as Bennet Johnson gave up four runs in the opening frame, but Lincoln continued to battle, tagging on one run in the 2nd and 3rd innings.
A four-run 6th inning actually gave the Ships a lead, but that dissipated in the top of the 7th, forcing the game into extra innings.
After a scoreless 8th and top of the 9th, Gabe Eichmann came up to bat with a runner on base.
He connected for a run-scoring, walk-off double to cap off a three-hit performance at the plate.
Eichman ended the night with a pair of doubles and a run scored, while fellow senior Nick Braun also had 3 hits, including a home run, 3 RBI, and scored twice.
After the shaky start, Bennet Johnson settled in, pitching 5 innings and allowing only one more run while striking out a pair.
Nick Minikel would come on in relief, hurling the final four frames while allowing just one more run and also striking out two.
With the win, the Ships improve to 9-6 on the season and 6-4 in the FRCC, good for 4th place.
They will have a chance to move up those rankings this week, as they are on the road for Green Bay Southwest on Thursday, a team they easily dispatched 10-0 last time they played.
Then, on Saturday, the Ships will host Bay Port in a doubleheader. The Pirates are currently 10-0 in conference play.
