The Hearts looked like they would return to the win column in the nightcap. They banged out 10 hits and collected seven walks through their first five at-bats and held a 13-4 lead as the Green Wave came to bat in the bottom of the fifth.

But while EHS managed only two more hits over the final two innings, the Mattoon offense came alive. The Green Wave combined nine hits, four walks, a hit batter and one costly error to tally 10 times over the final three frames that included a three-run, walk-off finish in the bottom of the seventh.

The Hearts still had a 13-11 lead, but Mattoon put together three singles and a walk to trim the lead to one. An error allowed the tying run to score and the winning run came home on a balk.

Effingham scored three runs in the first inning. Lee had an RBI double, Christian Raddatz drove home the second with a base hit and the third run scored on a wild pitch.

Mattoon came back to take a 4-3 lead, but the Hearts scored three runs in the third and two more in the fourth. EHS then put together a five-run fifth -- scoring on a bases loaded walk, a wild pitch, an error that let two runs come home and an RBI single by Josh McDevitt – to take a seemingly comfortable 13-4 lead.

Matthew Loy, the third of four pitchers used, took the loss. He relieved in the sixth and gave up six hits and four runs. Brayden Pals was the starter and went the first five innings, allowing four hits and six runs. Massey and Jackson Doedtman also pitched.

The Hearts dropped to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in the Apollo Conference. They will play Friday at North Clay and then return home to face Mt. Zion in a conference doubleheader Saturday.