DIVISION III BASEBALL: Johnson’s hit helps Lynx eliminate Needles

Colton Johnson’s RBI single to center with one out in the third inning sparked a four-run rally Thursday to lead Lincoln County past Needles, 6-2 in an elimination game in the Division III state baseball tournament at Wooster High in Reno.

A two-out error later in the inning allowed another run to score, and Paul Boag followed with a two-run single to put the Lynx up 5-2.

McClain O’Connor went 2-for-4 with two doubles, and Mike Wood and Johnson each went 1-for-2 with an RBI for Lincoln County (23-5-1), which bounced back from a 9-1 loss to Battle Mountain earlier in the day and will play either Battle Mountain (17-7) or Yerington (21-11) in an elimination game at 11:30 a.m. Friday at UNR’s Peccole Park.

Aidan Shaver and William Dunn each went 1-for-4 with an RBI for Needles (16-12-1), a 19-4 loser to Yerington earlier Friday.

Battle Mountain 9, Lincoln County 1 — Worth Nelson tossed a five-hitter and went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs to lead the Longhorns by the Lynx.

Damion Wilson was 1-for-3 with a double, two runs and two RBIs for Battle Mountain, which scored four runs in the fourth and five in the seventh.

Nick Vincent went 2-for-3 for Lincoln County.

Yerington 19, Needles 4 — Tyler Schlegelmilch went 2-for-2 with three runs and two RBIs as the Lions routed the Mustangs in five innings.

Austin Camarena was 1-for-3 with a double, two runs and four RBIs for Yerington, which led 11-0 after two innings.

Shaver was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Needles.