Centerville -- Indian Hills used strong pitching efforts in all four games -- holding visiting Muscatine CC to a total of just four runs and 16 hits -- to sweep a conference series from the Cardinals at Pat Daugherty Field. The Falcons (20-27, 9-11) won 5-1 and 10-0 in six innings on Sunday, then completed the series with two more fine mound performances in taking Monday's contests, 3-2 and 5-1.
It was the second time this spring that the Falcons' pitchers held MCC (22-27, 5-15) in check. IHCC allowed only seven runs in winning three of four games last month in Muscatine. That's 11 runs allowed in the eight regular season games by the Indian Hills staff.
The four-game set included IHCC head coach Cam Walker's 900th career victory in game two on Sunday.
The closest game among the four was the 3-2 decision in Monday's opening game. The Falcons Michael Starcevich held Muscatine without a run through five-plus innings. He left with the bases loaded and one out and his team leading, 3-0. Reliever Matt Krutsch permitted a two-run single by Phil Langlois to cut the advantage to 3-2, but Krutsch retired the next two hitters with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position to keep it a one-run game. Jacob Thiessen then pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning to save the win for Indian Hills.
Dillon Nelson had two hits, including a triple, for the Falcons and drove in two of the three runs. Olivier Basabe had the other RBI. Luis Gimenez, Noah Renaud and Nelson scored the runs.
The second game featured strong outings by two freshmen -- Jarret Cronin and KC Siwa. Cronin gave up the lone run on two hits in three innings. Siwa shut out the Cardinals over the final four frames, allowing three hits. The two got good support from the IHCC defense as they combined for just one strikeout.
Gimenez and Nelson had two-hit games and Lane Harvey had two RBIs. The Falcons scored all five of their runs in the 5th inning, aided by two walks, a hit batsman and two errors. Four of their five runs were unearned.
Sunday's action started with another 5-1 win for Indian Hills, who snapped a 1-1 tie with four runs in the 6th. Nelson had a pair of hits and he, along with Harvey, Ricardo Ortiz, Basabe and Grant Walker, drove in the runs. Bryce Collins went the first five innings for the Falcons and three relievers -- Krutsch, Zachary Lauzon and Thiessen -- finished up.
In coach Walker's milestone victory, Junior Ramirez spun a two-hit shutout, with three walks and five Ks. Indian Hills took advantage of six MCC errors and scored in every inning but the 5th.
Wyatt Olson had a two-hit game with two runs and two RBIs. Jose Vargas had two RBIs and Ryan Shull picked up a pair of hits and stole two bases.
Indian Hills plays its final regular season non-conference game at home against North Central Missouri on Tuesday, then goes to Marshalltown for four games this weekend.