Ottumwa -- After a rough stretch of games on their southern trip earlier in the month, the Indian Hills pitching staff needed some successful outings to get back on track. That's exactly what the Falcons got in a three-game sweep of Ridgewater (Minn.) College in a series that was moved to the Legion Field in Ottumwa because of a wet diamond in Centerville.

Not only did the Falcons win all three games, but their three starting pitchers each posted a shutout, holding the visitors scoreless over 19 innings.

Bryce Collins got things started on the mound in the opening game of Friday's twinbill, permitting only three hits and one walk while striking out eight in a route-going performance in a 5-0 win.

Leadoff hitter Luis Gimenez jump-started the offense with a solo homer in the 3rd inning. Olivier Basabe and Wyatt Olson each had a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the 5th and Jose Vargas chipped in an RBI double and Gimenez an RBI single to round out the scoring in the 6th. Dillon Nelson had two hits and Gimenez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in addition to his two RBIs.

The Falcons secured a 14-0 rout in five innings in the second game, thanks to a one-hit shutout by Junior Ramirez and lots of offense. Ramirez faced 18 batters, three over the minimum. He fanned six.

IHCC had a quick start with a 4-run 1st inning that featured a two-run single by Basabe and a run-scoring triple by Jacob Rhinesmith. Four more Falcons crossed the plate in the 2nd inning with Olson's two-run double the big blow. Basabe slugged a three-run homer in a 6-run 4th as the Falcons put the game away early.

Rhinesmith had two triples, a double and two runs scored. Basabe drove in five runs and scored three times. Nelson also had three runs and Gimenez two, while Olson and Lane Harvey had a pair of RBIs each. Gimenez finished off a 6-for-8 day at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort.

On Saturday it was Trevor Kiminski's turn to fashion his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory. Indian Hills scored the initial run in the 2nd and added a couple of insurance tallies in the 3rd. Rhinesmith had a single and a triple and a run batted in. Wyatt Aaberg had an RBI and Olson scored twice.

The series finale that was scheduled for Sunday was cancelled because of wet conditions.

The three-game sweep leaves IHCC with a 6-10 record. They will play at North Central Missouri on Thursday.