Iowa Falls, Iowa -- With seven of the nine hitters in the starting lineup collecting two hits, Indian Hills blitzed Ellsworth CC, 14-3, in a non-conference contest on Tuesday.
The Falcons plated four runs in their first at-bat and closed out the rout with a five-run 8th inning in improving their season record to 32-12. The 32 wins matches last year's total and the Falcons have their sights set on the first 40-win campaign since 2006.
Before IHCC starter Aaron Doughty took the mound in the bottom of the 1st, his teammates gave him a cushion by banging out six hits in the four-run top of the inning. Mike Levar's two-run double was the big blow, coming right after Jake Lewis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Lewis delivered an RBI single in the 3rd, driving in Paolo Montezuma, who had a leadoff single.
Junior Santos doubled and scored on Montezuma's single in the 5th and two runs scored, one on Levar's single, in the 7th. Santos scored four runs.
The big five-run 8th began with the first six hitters all reaching base. Montezuma had another RBI hit, Dario Polanco picked up a run-scoring single, Levar got his 4th RBI with a sacrifice fly and Joel Fuentes knocked in a run with a groundout.
Polanco scored three runs and Joel Booker and Montezuma had two each.
Leadoff hitter Caleb Ratzman batted six times in eight innings and was on base three times.
Doughty, Cody Hinson and Johno Rodriguez shared the pitching duties. Each gave up only one run, with Doughty's an unearned tally. Hinson struck out six in his three innings.
The Falcons will host Southwestern CC in a single game on Wednesday.
