KCC’s Comeback Kids clinch No.1 seed

The Kirkwood Eagles collected a pair of big comeback victories Sunday and clinched the No. 1 seed for the regional tournament.

Josh Fitzgerald socked a dramatic three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Eagles a 7-6 victory over Iowa Central in the first game of their ICCAC doubleheader at the Kirkwood field.

The Eagles trailed 6-0 in the first inning of Game 2, but they stormed all the way back for a 17-8 victory to complete the sweep.

Kirkwood raised its records to 33-18 overall and 29-11 in the conference. The Eagles have a three-game lead over Southeastern and Northeast with two games left in the regular season, thereby clinching the No. 1 seed for the regional.

Kirkwood trailed 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning of the opener, but Justin Martinez belted a three-run pinch-hit homer and Fitzgerald hit a solo shot to tie the game.

Iowa Central took a 6-4 lead in the top of the eighth, but Fitzgerald delivered a three-run homer with two outs for a walk-off victory.

Tyler Tscherter (4-1) picked up the victory in relief.

Kirkwood trailed 8-2 in the nightcap, but the Eagles exploded for 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 13-8 lead. Alex Pendergast and Cade Moss socked home runs in the comeback victory.

Pendergast, Chase Moseley, Moss and Kyle Moeder had three RBIs in the 17-8 conquest.