CENTERVILLE, IA – Indian Hills rebounded after suffering its first loss of the season Wednesday by sweeping a pair of games with NIACC Friday at Pat Daugherty Field, 10-6 in game one, and 13-2 in the nightcap.
"I was really interested to see how our guys would respond after our first loss Wednesday," said IHCC Head Coach Matthew Torrez. "I was impressed. From the time they showed up at the building to the last pitch of the game, they attacked the day with the correct energy and effort."
Wyatt Wendell (4-0) won his team-leading fourth decision in game one. The Warrior right hander entered the seventh inning with a comfortable 10-2 lead, but ran into trouble allowing three consecutive singles and then walked in a run, prompting Torrez to call on Dade Hensley out of the bullpen. Hensley would strike out the side, but not before NIACC plated three more runs on a double to make the final 10-6. Wendell was credited with six innings of work, allowing seven hits on nine strikeouts and two walks.
"Wyatt did a good job getting through six plus innings and giving us a chance to score runs," Torrez added.
Offensively, the Warriors showed up ready to put the season's first loss behind them as they jumped on Trojan starter, Brandt Thompson for nine runs in the first two innings. NIACC was its own worst enemy, however, as IHCC pushed across the nine tallies on just two hits. In total, the Warriors ten runs for the contest came on just five singles. NIACC committed five errors and issued eight free passes.
"Offensively, we were very opportunistic," Torrez said. "We were out hit, but our guys did the right things in big moments."
Ren Tachioka, C.J. Castillo, Pier-Olivier Boucher, Noel Perez and Ricardo Van Grieken supplied the Warrior hits. Van Grieken knocked in three while Castillo plated two and Perez had one RBI.
Game two featured a nine-run Warrior outburst in the bottom of the sixth to break open what was a 4-1 contest entering the frame. The nine spot set the stage for a premature stoppage in the seventh inning of what was scheduled to be a nine-inning affair.
The IHCC sixth featured a two-RBI single from Van Grieken, a Tachioka triple that scored three and an inside the park homerun from Boucher.
"We scored in four of the six innings to keep the pressure on them to answer," said Torrez. "In both games today, we put up runs early to give the pitchers some room to work."
Maddux Hoaglund (3-0) went six innings to capture the win, surrendering just three hits on while fanning nine and walking two. Hoaglund ran into trouble in the sixth after plunking a Trojan and a pair of Warrior errors on the infield loaded the bags with two outs. The Warrior righty would escape the jam with an inning-ending punch out of Jon Koehn to end the threat.
"That strikeout in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded probably led to the momentum of our big inning in the bottom half," Torrez suggested. "Maddux did a great job limiting them to one run in six innings."
Shane Morrow had a big day at the plate for IHCC with a pair of RBI on a 3-for-4 performance. Tachioka moved to the leadoff spot and knocked in four, scored one and stole a bag. Billy Rivera went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and knocked in one. Van Grieken and Boucher each had a pair of RBI.
"Our kids had great energy and focus today," Torrez concluded. "I was really happy with how they attacked the day."
The same two teams square off for two more contests in Centerville Saturday afternoon. First pitch from Pat Daugherty Field is set for noon.
GAME ONE
NIACC 020 000 4 – 6 8 5
Indian Hills 360 001 0 – 10 5 1
WP – Wyatt Wendell (4-0), LP – Brandt Thompson
(RBI – Van Grieken 3, Castillo 2, Perez; HBP – Rivera; SAC – Van Grieken 2; SB – Tachioka 2, Morrow 2, Castillo, Boucher; CS – Fortier)
GAME TWO
NIACC 010 000 1 – 2 5 3
Indian Hills 210 109 x – 13 9 2
WP – Maddux Hoaglund (3-0), LP – N. Lommen
(3B – Tachioka; HR – Boucher; RBI – Tachioka 4, Boucher 2, Morrow 2, Van Grieken 2, Rivera 1; HBP – Van Grieken 2, Castillo, Tachioka, Morrow; SB – Castillo, Tachioka, Fortier)