#8 Kirkwood Triumphs Over Trojans

Cedar Rapids, IA- With the end of the regular season close approaching, #8 Kirkwood was looking to put itself in the best position to finish strong in the ICCAC standings. Standing in their way on Wednesday afternoon was the NIACC Trojans. 

The first game of the afternoon started off with a bang as the Eagles got off to a fast start, scoring 6 runs in the top of the 1st inning. Ethan Bowers led off and hit a double, followed by a Brayden Hellum walk, and a Clayton Campidilli single. After a passed ball scored an Eagle run, Cal Sullivan stepped up and hit an absolute bomb out of Lewis Field, scoring 3 runs. After 2 more RBIs from Alex Ritzer, the Eagles would come out of the 1st up 6-0. Jackson Payne started on the mound for the Eagles and pitched 5 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, and striking out 5 batters. The Trojans wouldn't score until the 4th inning, but after big 2nd and 5th innings from Kirkwood, they wouldn't be able to catch up. Cal Sullivan would end the game with 3 RBIs, Addison Binnie would have 2 (with a home run), Ritzer would have 2, and Hellum would have 1. Kirkwood would close out the game 12-2. 

In the second game of the doubleheader, Kirkwood would again get out to a hot start, but this game would prove to be much closer. Ethan Bowers would lead the game off with a double and then was advanced to third off a flyout from Hellum. Cal Sullivan would hit a grounder for a single, followed by a Miles Risley walk, and a HBP by Addison Binnie would load up the bases. NIACC would then proceed to walk Owen Ross, scoring Sullivan. Jaxon Schumacher would step up and hit a line drive for a single that would score Risley and Binnie, making the score 4-1 at the end of the 1st inning. The Trojans wouldn't go quietly this time and put up 4 runs in the 5th inning to tie up the game at 5 a piece. In the top of the 7th inning, Owen Ross was walked, followed by Connor Woods, and finally, Alex Ritzer was walked to load the bases for Ethan Bowers. Bowers would hit a line drive for a single that scored Ross and Woods, making the game 7-5. One more run in the top of the 8th for the Eagles would finish the game at 8-5. 

Kirkwood hosts Marshalltown this weekend for a three-game series starting with a doubleheader on Saturday. They look to ride this win streak to finish the regular season strong and put themselves in the most opportune position come post-season time.