MARSHALLTOWN, IA – Unbeaten Indian Hills leaned on its high-powered offense to follow up Sunday's sweep of Marshalltown with another pair of wins on Monday at windy Shawn Williams Field, 13-9 and 26-7
In total, the Warriors tallied 61 runs over the four-game set with the host Tigers, and in Monday's twinbill, IHCC needed the extra offense, because its pitching wasn't in the stellar form that it has been to this point.
"It was the first time this year where our pitching was not a strong point for us," said IHCC Head Coach Matthew Torrez. "It was a tough day to pitch, and a good day to hit. Fortunately our pitchers out of the pen gave us enough of a chance to keep scoring to win late."
Game one starter Douglas Rojas, who came in at 2-0 after two outings, ran into trouble in both the second and third innings as the lefty gave up six runs, five earned before exiting after 2 2/3 frames. The Warrior offense kept pace, however, and the 6-6 deadlock became 10-6 just an inning later after a two-RBI single from Samuel Fortier, a wild pitch that scored Ren Tackioka and a RBI-triple from Pier-Olivier Boucher.
The Tigers would claw back to within 10-8, but a Boucher two-run blast in the sixth and a Billy Rivera sacrifice fly in the seventh gave the Warrior bullpen the insurance it needed to deliver the squads 14th win in as many outings this season.
"Our hitters didn't panic and force the issue," Torrez said. "They stayed disciplined and gave us enough run support to win."
Reliver Dade Hensley went 1 2/3 innings to be credited with the win, and while Arturo Rodriguez didn't earn a save in closing out the final inning for the Warriors, in Torrez' opinion, his hard throwing righty's performance was every bit as important as if it were a save opportunity.
"Arturo came on in the seventh and did his job," Torrez added. "It may not have been a save opportunity, but with the wind blowing out like it was, in my mind it was a huge save."
The Indian Hills offense was led by Boucher, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with a homer, triple and three RBI. Leadoff man Samuel Fortier was 2-for-2 with a double and two knocked in. The remaining seven Warrior starters each contributed one hit in the win, highlighted by Tucker Ebest's first inning two-run bomb to center, his second round-tripper of the season.
Game two was slated to be a nine-inning affair, and ICCAC rules state that no mercy rules are in effect before the seventh inning. The Warriors led 16-5 after five and 18-7 after six, but the play had to continue, and the IHCC offense was relentless, scoring eight more times in the seventh against the worn out Tigers, and the contest finally came to an end after seven innings with the visitors holding a 19-run lead.
"When you get to the fourth game of a weekend set, you know that runs are usually going to be scored with both teams' pitching being gassed for the most part," Torrez explained. "Our hitters went out and gave us a good day at the plate, and we got to use some different guys late in the game, which was really nice to see those guys come out and have good at bats as well."
The Tigers jumped on IHCC starter Andrew Beissner for four runs in the first, but to his credit, the lefty from Houston, Texas settled down and gave the Warriors five-innings of six-hit, four-run work to earn his second victory while totaling 10 strikeouts on two walks.
"Andrew got off to a slow start in the first, but ended up giving us a quality start," Torrez said. "His effort after the rough start was crucial for our bullpen."
Relievers Jurgen Zwitzer, Rodriguez and Kohta Kubota combined to take care of the final two innings of work. The Warriors' 28-hit barrage gave the IHCC arms all the offense they would need as Torrez' club moved to 15-0 overall and 10-0 in ICCAC play. Marshalltown fell to 6-14 and 3-9.
Ricardo Van Grieken was 4-for-7 at the dish with a team-leading four RBI. Five other Warriors had three-hit performances including Fortier, C.J. Castillo Noah Butler, Noel Perez and Billy Rivera. Boucher, Shane Morrow, Ryan Telenko, and Dave Janssen each supplied a pair of hits. Boucher and Castillo homered and Butler added a triple. Boucher's blast was his second of the day and team-leading fourth on the season.
The Warriors return home to host Southeastern on Wednesday for the first two of what will be a six game homestand. Game time for Wednesday's twinbill is 1 p.m. at Pat Daugherty Field.
GAME ONE
Indian Hills 222 402 1 – 13 11 1
Marshalltown 033 021 0 – 9 8 2
WP – Dade Hensley (1-0), LP – Mondre Lagow
(2B – Fortier, Perez; 3B – Boucher, Janssen; HR – Boucher, Ebest; RBI – Boucher 3, Ebest 2, Fortier 2, Rivera, Tachioka, Van Grieken 2; HBP – Fortier, Rivera; SB – Boucher, Fortier, Tachioka 3, Van Grieken; CS – Fortier 2)
GAME TWO
Indian Hills 103 752 8 – 26 28 0
Marshalltown 400 012 0 – 7 9 4
WP – Andrew Beissner (2-0), LP – Tom Leathem
(2B – Butler 2, Janssen, Morrow 2, Perez 2, Rivera, Telenko 2, Van Grieken; 3B – Butler; HR- Boucher, Castillo; RBI – Aragon, Boucher, Butler 3, Castillo 2, Fortier 3, Janssen, Morrow, Rivera 2, Tachioka, Telenko 3, Van Grieken 4; SAC – Tachioka; HBP – Aragon; Janssen, Perez 2, Tachioka 2; SB – Boucher, Castillo, Ebest, Tachioka; CS – Janssen)