CRESTON, IA – Indian Hills ran its record to 5-0 Friday in Creston with a 16-6 run-rule shortened victory over host Southwestern.
The Warriors had been on the sidelines for twelve days after a season-opening four game sweep of State Fair, but the offense showed no rust in piling up double-digit runs for the third time this season on the strength of a 16-hit attack.
"Offensively we were able to capitalize early on, which allowed us to put pressure on their defense," said IHCC Head Coach Matthew Torrez. "All nine of our hitters contributed in several different areas. It was a great team effort after an extended period of time between games."
Indian Hills struck first with a five-spot in the top of the second inning. Tucker Ebest got things started with a single to right followed by a Noel Perez drawing a walk and Ricardo Van Grieken loaded the bags after being hit by a pitch. Catcher Dave Janssen came through with a double to center, plating two. A Billy Rivera single and a Ren Tachioka double made it 4-0. Tachioka would steal third and came around to score on a Spartan error.
"We ran the bases well and had some guys step up with runners in scoring position when we needed it most," Torrez remarked.
Pier-Oliver Boucher tacked on another run in the third as the Warrior outfielder parked one to left to make it 6-0.
Indian Hills starter Nick Marshall ran into trouble in the bottom of the third when a pair of Spartan singles were followed up with an error to score one, a sacrifice fly to scored another and a Colby Page two-run homerun to cut the Warrior lead to 6-4. Marshall (2-0) shut down the Spartans during the remainder of his five innings of work to collect the win. The IHCC righty surrendered three earned runs on seven hits and one walk. Marshall fanned nine.
"Nick did a really good job of coming out and pounding the strike zone early," Torrez added. "He came through with a couple of big zeros on the scoreboard when we needed them."
The Warrior offense kept producing with two more coming across in the fourth frame. With one out, C.J. Castillo drilled a homer to left, followed by a pair of doubles from Boucher and Perez to put IHCC up 8-4. The visitors would add another pair of runs in the sixth on the strength of four straight walks and a Van Grieken RBI-single to give Indian hills a 10-4 margin.
Torrez called on Dade Hensley in the bottom of the sixth and the he picked up a pair of innings in relief. The Spartans would push a pair of unearned runs across in the sixth as Hensley struck out four and walked one and allowed one hit in his two innings of work.
"Dade provided a solid outing," Torrez said. "He continues to trust his defense and throw strikes."
IHCC would set things up for the mercy rule to take effect in the top of the seventh as the Warriors pushed across six more runs. The big blows came from a two-RBI double from Castillo and a Janssen knocked in two with a single to left to put Indian Hills up 16-6.
Janssen ended up going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and four RBI while Castillo was 2-for-4 with a double, homerun and three RBI. Boucher was 2-for-3 with a round-tripper, a double, four runs scored and a pair of walks. Ebest, Perez, Van Grieken and Tachioka all added multi-hit performances for IHCC.
The Warriors open ICCAC play Saturday against Iowa Lakes (2-8) with a pair of games at Pat Daugherty Field. The twinbill will also serve as the IHCC home openers as the Lakers visit for a four-game weekend set. Saturday's games begin at 1 p.m. while Sunday's pair get underway at noon.
IHCC 16, SWCC 6 – 7 innings
Indian Hills 051 202 6 – 16 16 4
Southwestern 004 002 0 – 6 8 2
WP – Nick Marshall (2-0), LP – Cole Dingee.
(2B – Boucher, Castillo, Janssen, Perez, Tachioka; HR – Boucher, Castillo, RBI – Boucher, Castillo (3), Janssen (4), Perez (2), Rivera, Van Grieken (2); HBP – Van Grieken (2); SB – Castillo, Janssen, Rivera, Tachioka (2), Van Grieken; CS – Rivera).