Falcons Open With Split in Missouri

Liberty, MO -- In what has to be one of their earliest openers ever on a midwestern field, Indian Hills divided a pair of games with MCC-Maple Woods on Sunday. The Falcons squandered a good pitching performance by sophomore Jordan Piche in the opener in dropping a 2-1 decision, then gained the split with a 3-0 win in the nightcap.

Sophomore Cashtyn DeLeeuw, who led IHCC in pitching victories last year, won in his inaugural start of the season in game two, throwing six innings and giving up only two hits and one walk while striking out four. Freshman A.J. McElderry threw a scoreless inning in his collegiate debut and was credited with a save.

"DeLeeuw was outstanding," said IHCC coach Cam Walker. "He competed even though he didn't have his best stuff. And we played great defense behind him."

IHCC scored single runs in the 4th, 5th and 7th innings to post the win.

Yuliecer Arias reached on an error leading off the 4th and scored the only run DeLeeuw would need on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Ostrich.

Guillermo Cruz had another sacrifice fly to drive in Anthony Gagliardi in the 5th and Arias doubled home Kevin Arroyo in the 7th after Arroyo led off the inning with a double.

Arias and Arroyo each had two hits for the Falcons.

In the opener, Piche shut out the Monarchs for the first five innings before they broke through for a pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th. Indian Hills had grabbed an early 1-0 lead when Levi Grassley singled and came around to score in the 2nd inning.

Indian Hills outhit Maple Woods 6-3, but the Falcons couldn't come up with the big hit when they needed it, stranding runners in scoring position in four different innings. They had a chance to tie the score or go ahead in the top of the 7th when Arroyo doubled and Cruz singled, but a fly out ended the game.

Coach Walker lamented the fact that his team couldn't come through in the clutch. "We had chances in the 2nd and 3rd innings to put the game away, but couldn't get the big hit. I felt we outplayed them in every facet of the game, but they got two hits in the 6th from their 3 and 4 hitters and that was enough."

Indian Hills will stay in Missouri and make up Saturday's scheduled doubleheader with a twinbill on Monday. The Falcons depart on Thursday for their southern trip to Arizona.