During a challenging stretch for the Lincoln baseball team, the Bulldogs got a big win on Wednesday night at Kellyville to put themselves in the driver's seat for the top seed in district 3A-7.

Lincoln got a standout performance from junior Chandler Cozbey, which included a late 2-run bomb, to win 4-2 in a rescheduled game from Monday to remain in 1st place in the district.

The Bulldogs (12-13) fell to Kellyville at home 2-1 just a day before but found a way to battle and split with the Ponies after the big win on Wednesday.

"I'm really proud of our kids," said Lincoln head coach Greg Harmon. "We were the aggressor and our kids hung in there. A lot of times, a baseball game feels like a 7-inning marathon instead of a sprint, so I'm just happy for our guys to find a way to win a tough game late over a good team."

On Wednesday, after the game was tied 2-2 heading into the top of the 7th, Cozbey came through on the plate after delivering on the mound earlier.

Beaux Bramble led off the inning with a walk before Jaxon Crumbliss bunted into a fielder's choice. 

Cozbey stepped to the plate and liked the first pitch he saw, as the junior smoked a ball to right field that was never in doubt.

The bomb put Lincoln up 4-2.

"He played his tail off in all areas on Wednesday," Harmon said. "I was really proud of him. He is a soft-spoken kid but has a lot of talent and stepped up huge for us. That was one of the most impressive home runs I have seen from a kid his size. And it came at exactly the right time. Just a huge moment for our team and for him."

Carter Hunter, who entered the game for Cozbey in the 6th, worked around a 2-out to close out the game for Lincoln.

"We fought from the first inning to the last out," said Harmon. "As I have told our kids all year, when we do that, we can be really good. When we don't fight and compete like that, we have struggled."

Cozbey worked 5.1 innings of 2-run ball, scattering nine hits and walking just one. His 2-run, go-ahead bomb was his only hit of the game.

Lincoln had just six hits in the win but it was enough, as Harmon saw a comfortable team that was able to overcome Kellyville's top arm.

"We had been in a lot of games like that all year," said Harmon. "And I think it made a big difference. The kid they threw was one of best arms we have seen all year. And we had to capitalize with how well we played. We had worked too hard to get an edge and not come through."

Cole Dooley was 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, as he he had an RBI single in the 1st to put Lincoln up 1-0.

After the Ponies tied the game in the bottom half, the Bulldogs regained the lead in the 6th.

Dooley singled on a hard-hit ball to short, scoring Carter Ricke, who led off the inning with a single and was moved over on a bunt single by Luke McCants.

Lincoln fell in two Pinnacle Conference games on Thursday, losing 4-2 to Holland Hall and 10-2 to Metro Christian.

However, Lincoln still sits atop district 3A-7 with a 6-2 league record and only four district games remaining.

"We control our own destiny," said Harmon. "If we beat Dewey twice next week and do the same the following week against Tahlequah-Sequoyah, we will win the district."

Even if the Bulldogs split one series and win the other, they have a great chance at bringing home a district title.

"Our kids deserve it," Harmon said. "We have worked really hard and challenged ourselves all year long with a very tough schedule. It would be a great stepping stone for our program. But we have to go out and do it and finish the job."

Lincoln is at Dewey on Monday before returning home to host the Bulldoggers at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs play at Jenks next Thursday and host Tulsa NOAH on Saturday.

The final week of the regular season will see Lincoln host Tahlequah-Seqouyah on Monday, April 21 before traveling for the return game on Tuesday.

Lincoln closes out the regular season with two home games, hosting Metro on Friday, April 25 and Morris on Monday, April 28.