UNION – The West Lincoln Bears managed to clinch a 5-4 victory over the Union Yellowjackets in game two Friday night to force a decisive game-three contest back home at West Lincoln Saturday in the opening round of the Class 2A state baseball playoffs.

In Saturday’s game-three action, the Union Yellowjackets knock off the West Lincoln 4-2 to win the series.

The Bears, coached by first-year head coach David Gilbert, concluded their baseball season with a 10-12 worksheet. West Lincoln finished second in the Region 7-2A race with a 8-2 record.

West Lincoln 5, Union 4 

The Bears and Yellowjackets came out and battled in a scoreless contest in the first two innings of action, before West Lincoln’s offense managed to put together a string of runs in the third, fourth and fifth inning to take a commanding 5-0 lead.

Union managed to finally get on the scoreboard late in the bottom of the seventh inning. They broke up West Lincoln’s shut out game with a late run that plated four runs. The Bears’ defense managed to spoil Union’s late rally attempt by collecting the final out to force a game-three contest back at West Lincoln.

Hunter Maxwell went the distance for West Lincoln on the mound to collect the win with five strikeouts and two walks.

Adam Richardson suffered the loss on the rubber for Union with five strikeouts and five walks.

Alex Neal sparked the Bears at the plate with a double and a single. Austin Burns and Seth Bivens fueled the flames with two singles apiece. Hitting safely were Bryce Temple and Daniel Spears.

Ryan Baysinger, Wilkins Thames and Casey Morris were the top hitters for Union’s offense with two singles apiece. Michael McDonald had a double. Lane Stevens and Adam Richardson hit safely.

Union 4, West Lincoln 2 

In game three, the Bears and the Yellowjackets battled in a scoreless contest until the third inning when West Lincoln took a 1-0 lead, which began with a single by Lofton Sills. A single by Austin Burris moved Sills from first to second. Alex Neal hit a double to send home Sills.

Union took the lead in the fourth inning scoring four runs on an RBI double by Lane Stevens and two errors.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bears fought hard to make a comeback but managed to score only one run attempt.

Daniel Spears was a workhorse on the hill for West Lincoln in the defeat. Spears allowed one earned run, three hits and two walks while striking out four batters over seven innings of work.

Austin Hood pitched the win for Union. He allowed two runs over seven innings with three strikeouts and two walks on eight hits.

Alex Neal and Daniel Spears were the top hitters for West Lincoln with a double each. Hitting safely were Austin Burns, Bryce Temple, Ty Forman, Seth Bivens, Hunter Maxwell and Lofton Sills.

Steven and Hood paced the Yellowjackets offense with a double each. Casey Morris had a single.