DES MOINES — The Marshalltown baseball team played its most competitive doubleheader of the season, but it wasn’t enough the Bobcats back into the win column.

Des Moines Lincoln swept a twinbill from Marshalltown on Wednesday night, winning 8-2 and 9-6 in Iowa Alliance Conference cross-divisional play.

The eight combined runs is the top output for the Bobcats (1-10) in a doubleheader this season, but the Railsplitters (4-5) got more than enough to claim both games.

“Thought we took some strides in a positive direction today,” said MHS interim head coach Allen Mann. “Still too many mistakes defensively and our team knows that.”

In the opening game, Des Moines Lincoln led 1-0 and 2-1, but the Bobcats matched both runs. Sam Greazel walked and scored on a Tayven Dutton single to tie the game at 1-all in the top of the fifth, while Seth Smith reached on an error and scored on a Nick Rebik single in the sixth.

Things were going well on the mound for Smith until the bottom of the sixth, when the Railsplitters chased him from the bump after allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. Three more Rails scored when Aaron Guerrero greeted Zander Stupp’s relief appearance with a two-run triple and an RBI double, and a Bobcat error plated Lincoln’s final run of six in the frame.

“Seth did a good job pitching this afternoon,” Mann said. “He was around the plate, mixed well. Just ran out of gas late. I might have kept him in one batter too long, but I’m proud of his effort today.”

MHS managed just four hits — all singles — against Railsplitters hurler Mason Fritz, who pitched all seven innings for the win. He hit two batters and struck out five.

In the nightcap, the Bobcats fell behind 3-0 after one inning but again battled back. MHS took a 4-3 lead in the fourth before the Railsplitters dropped another three-spot on the scoreboard.

Marshalltown retaliated again, scoring once in the fifth and sixth to tie the game at 6-all. Lincoln got three more runs in home half, however, to regain the lead for good.

“The kids’ effort in game two and willingness to not hang their heads is a reason we had a chance to win the game there late,” Mann said.

Smith was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Jacob Hayes was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Caleb Kusserow hit an RBI double in the sixth to tie the game temporarily. Sam Greazel and Keiler Blue both added hits for MHS.

Blue got the loss in relief of Stupp, surrendering Des Moines Lincoln’s final three runs. Greazel got the final three outs in relief.

“Overall, through both games, we had our best offensive day at the plate,” said Mann. “We had an approach at the plate and did a decent job of executing.

“We need to continue to build off of the improvements we made here today, have our best practice tomorrow and go play our best game yet here this Friday versus a good Ballard team.”

Marshalltown hosts Class 3A No. 6 Ballard for a JV/varsity doubleheader on Friday night with the junior varsity starting at 5 p.m. and the varsity scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. Ballard head coach Mike Furlong is a former Central College teammate of Mann’s, while Bombers assistant coach Grant Bohlke is a 2010 Marshalltown High School graduate.

SOFTBALL

DES MOINES — The Marshalltown softball team distributed a combined 24 walks, four hit batsmen and four errors in an eventual doubleheader sweep at the hands of Des Moines Lincoln on Wednesday night.

The host Railsplitters (7-1) collected their fifth and sixth consecutive wins, prevailing 15-2 in six innings and 12-2 in five innings over the Bobcats (2-3).

Caedence Risius hit a walk-off grand slam to end the first game by run rule, capping the Railsplitters’ nine-run eruption.

Risius pitched all six innings for Lincoln as well, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and five walks while striking out 14.

MHS starting pitcher Emma Stupp walked four of the five batters she faced before giving way to Briley Danielson, who pitched the remaining five frames.

Danielson had the biggest of four Bobcat hits, connecting on a two-run home run. Kate Sandvick, Ava Augustine and Reagan Ford all had a single.

In game two, 14 walks issued by three Bobcat pitchers plagued Marshalltown’s hopes. Lincoln got just four hits in the game, but two of them were doubles.

Gianna Baune, Kristin Hays and Sandvick accounted for the Bobcats’ singles. Karsyn Price walked and scored when Hays was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Augustine followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Baune.

Following Thursday’s road game at Grinnell, the Bobcats are back at home for six straight games next week starting with Monday’s Iowa Alliance Conference twinbill against Ames.