DANVILLE — Led by a balanced offensive effort and the pitching of former Schlarman standout Aaron Lewellyn, the Danville Area Community College Jaguars won the second game of a double header 12-2 in six innings to salvage a split with the Lincoln Land Loggers.

Ryan Black led the way offensively reaching base three times and driving in three, with Brayton Caudill and Connor Weir each driving in a pair.

Jacob Houston reached base four times and had an RBI, with Tanner Hahn and Rennie Troggio each reaching base twice. Lewellyn went the distance allowing three hits while striking out four and walking four.

“Aaron has been closing for us,” said DACC coach Michael Dalton. “We have been playing a lot of games lately and we asked him to start and he came out and did a very nice job.”

The Jaguars scored twice in the second inning, three times in the third, six times in the fifth and once in the sixth to seal the win.

“We did a really nice job up and down the batting order,” said Dalton. “Our offense really broke through again like it did in the first game, and our defense and pitching put us in a position to win. We had been on a little skid and they had won 14 in a row counting the first game today, which adds to this win.”

In the first game, DACC again exploded offensively and got out to a big early lead but couldn’t hold on in a 14-13 seven inning loss.

Houston led the way offensively with a grand slam and five RBI’S, Alex Potter reached base five times and drove in three, with Troggio and Weir each reaching base three times. Darwing Ereu started and went the first five innings allowing nine runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking one.

Ben Taylor was the hard luck losing pitcher, throwing the final two innings in relief. Dalton was pleased with the effort, which laid the foundation for the win in game 2, but not the result.

“We have lost a lot of one run games lately against some very good teams,” he said. “We did everything necessary to beat a very good team that is red hot right now winning 21 of their last 24 games. We feel like we are right there and will get rolling along once we break through which again adds to the win in game 2, but we have to find ways to win these close games against top competition.”

The Jaguars set the tone of the game and captured the momentum early, throwing out a runner at third in the top of the first to stop a Loggers scoring threat. Run scoring hits from Potter, and Houston, a bunt from Black, and a two RBI single from Josh Burkhalter put DACC up 5-0 after one inning.

“Darwing got off to a rough start and struggled some early but getting that runner turned things around for us,” Dalton said. “Like Aaron, he is usually a reliever but we needed him to step in and start and he did a good job. He pitched well enough to win the game.”

The Loggers would get on the board in the top of the second and the Jaguars would answer with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a double by Potter. The Loggers connected for the first of their three home runs in the game in the top of the third to cut the DACC lead to 7-3.

“That home run was a turning point in the game,” said Dalton. “They turn on one in the third and all of a sudden their back in it and its a tight game.”

The Loggers would add a run in the top of the fourth, but fueled by the grand slam from Houston the Jaguars responded right back with five runs pushing the lead back out to 12-4.

The Loggers would score seven runs over the next two innings and took a 14-12 lead with three runs in the seventh.

As has been the case many times this season, the Jaguars were not through though and battled till their final out.

Hahn and Troggio started the bottom of the seventh with singles and following a double play, Bobby Hansen singled home Hahn. Potter would follow with a walk but the Loggers were able to retire Houston to end the game.

“We got out to a pair of good leads, but allowed them to tack on runs,” said Dalton. “Our offense executed well in this game. We took a lot of walks and got some good swings. We forced their pitchers to put the ball in the zone, but we let them stay in the game and with the power hitting, they have they were able to get the win in Game 1. We needed to get ourselves going and gain as much momentum as possible heading into the regional and with the offensive effort in both games we took a positive step in that direction.”

The Jaguars are now 22-17 overall and 9-11 in Midwest Athletic Conference play and return to action today with a rematch against the Loggers in Springfield.