Centerville -- After a tough 4-3 extra-inning loss in the first game of a four-game weekend series that ended IHCC's regular season slate, the Falcons roared back to stomp Southwestern CC 15-4 and 12-2 and nipped them 1-0 to take the series 3-1 and run their record to 35-18, 14-10 in the ICCAC standings.
Southwestern took the opening game on Saturday in walk-off fashion, scoring in the bottom of the 8th against IHCC reliever Caleb Miley, who had replaced Jacob Thiessen in the 7th. The Spartans had scored their other three runs in the 1st before Thiessen shut them down for the next five innings. Ryan Humeniuk's homer accounted for one of the Indian Hills runs and he drove in another score.
Back came the Falcons in game two, scoring in every inning but the 6th and capping their day with five in the 7th. IHCC banged out 13 hits including two each by Humeniuk, Dillon Nelson, Jacob Rhinesmith, Lane Harvey, Christian Pena and Zachary Fascia. Humeniuk, Nelson and Harvey all knocked in three and Nelson crossed the plate three times. Oracio Deleon started on the mound, went six innings and notched the win. Luke Allridge finished up.
Sunday's first game in Centerville was a pitcher's duel, decided by a single IHCC run in the 4th that was scored by Luis Gimenez. Lefty Jared Spearing, coming off a 13-strikeout game against Marshalltown in his last conference start, had another outstanding performanc. He pitched three-hit shutout baseball over six innings with no walks and six Ks before turning things over to Fascia who threw a 1-2-3 7th for the save.
Seven runs in the 3rd inning broke a 2-2 tie in the nightcap and propelled the Falcons to the sweep. IHCC made the most of their seven hits, three of which came from Lane Harvey, who scored two times. Rhinesmith and Gimenez scored three runs apiece and Humeniuk knocked in three and Harvey and Joshmar Doran two each Zachary Lauzon got through the first five innings, giving up five hits and one earned run with three strikeouts. DJ DePiero struck out one in his only inning.
The Falcons have the first part of this week to get ready for the Region 11 postseason tourney that will be played at Pat Daugherty Field in Centerville. Their first-round opponent will be Marshalltown CC at 2pm on Friday.. IHCC won six of eight games with MCC during the regular season