A Second Split for Falcons in Missouri

Liberty, MO -- For the second day in a row, Indian Hills split a pair of games with MCC-Maple Woods as the Falcons had a final tuneup before their annual trip to Arizona.

This time, the Falcons missed out on a chance to sweep the Monarchs, winning 13-2 in five innings, then losing 7-6 in a game in which they had an early 5-0 lead.

IHCC used an 8-run second inning to blow open the first game.

Guilermo Cruz led off the game with a home run and Jason Bonilla doubled home a run later in the 1st.

After the first two hitters were retired in the IHCC 2nd, the next nine batters all reached base and eight of them scored. The big hits in the inning were doubles by Cruz and Tyler Hermann and the first collegiate homer by Taylor Ostrich.

Cruz, Hermann, Levi Grassley and Ostrich all drove in two runs; Cruz and Francis Marcelo had three hits and Yuliecer Arias had two. Everyone in the IHCC lineup, even three reserves, had at least one hit.

Matt Lashlee got the win in relief of starter Anthony Gagliardi. Lashlee, in three shutout innings, allowed three hits and no walks.

The Falcons scored single runs in the first two innings of the second game and tacked on three more in the 3rd to go ahead 5-0. The third-inning runs came on Hermann's bases-loaded double.

Jake Stalzer started on the mound for the Falcons and was strong early, striking out six in the first three innings. But coach Cam Walker said Stalzer "tired and hit the wall" in the next two innings, giving up five runs. He did strike out nine in four-plus innings.

Sam Ross took the loss in relief, giving up single runs in the 6th and 7th.

Bonilla had a solo homer in the 5th for IHCC's final run. Cruz had a two-hit game from the leadoff spot for the Falcons and he and Bonilla each scored twice.

The Falcons will leave for Arizona on Thursday and play their first games there on Saturday against Monroe College from New York.