Pitching + Rally = KCC sweep

MASON CITY - Great pitching in Game 1, great rally in Game 2.

The Kirkwood Eagles swept NIACC, 4-0 and 12-11, in ICCAC baseball Thursday in Mason City.

The surging Eagles raised their records to 15-14 overall and 11-7 in the conference. NIACC fell to 8-15 overall and 3-13 in the league.

Reece Beuter (1-2) tossed a four-hit shutout in the first game, with nine strikeouts and one walk.

Joel Vaske went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Josh Fitzgerald had two stolen bases and scored twice. Evan Paulus had two hits in the first game.

Kirkwood trailed 11-5 entering the top of the ninth inning in the nightcap, but a seven-run explosion gave them the lead and 12-11 victory.

Alex Pendergast went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Chase Moseley drove in three runs. Justin Martin went 2-for-4 with a home run and scored twice. Fitzgerald and Vaske had two hits and scored two runs.

Jake Matthaidess pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the eighth and got the victory when Kirkwood put its 7-spot on the board in the top of the ninth. Frankie Cresta tossed a scoreless frame in the bottom of the ninth for a save, but it got sticky when he walked two batters and put the tying run in scoring position.