Falcons Claim League Sweep at Muscatine

Muscatine, IA -- Last-inning rallies in three of the four games allowed Indian Hills to sweep a weekend four-game series with Muscatine CC.  The victories allow the Falcons to move to within two games of the conference lead after Marshalltown took three of four games from league-leader Iowa Western.

The Falcons got the only run of the game in the top of the 7th in the opener to get the series started on the right foot with a 1-0 win; they plated two runs in the top of the 8th to take game two, 10-8; and they had another two-run rally in the final inning, the 7th, to complete the sweep, winning 7-6 in Sunday's second game.

The only game that wasn't close was the first one on Sunday -- a 19-6 blowout for IHCC.

Kevin Cicali singled home Tyler Hermann with the lone run in the 1-0 victory.  Hermann was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a walk to Dario Polanco before Cicali brought him home with an RBI-single.

The Falcons were held to only two hits, but Jake Stalzer was solid in keeping the hosts off the scoreboard until Indian Hills could break through with a run.  The IHCC starter went 6 2/3 innings, allowing only three hits and two walks.  His second walk came after he retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the 7th.  Freshman Derek Kawlewski came out of the bullpen to retire the next hitter on a popup to first base to preserve the win.

Muscatine scored five times in the bottom of the 7th in Saturday's second game to force extra innings.  Hermann's two-run single with the bases loaded in the 8th provided the winning margin.  Caleb Ratzman, Junior Santos and Edgar Lebron all had two hits for the Falcons and Santos knocked in three runs.

The win went to Matt Burnham in relief and Matt Lashlee shut down the Cardinals with a 1-2-3 8th after Indian Hills took the lead.

The Falcons used a 20-hit barrage in winning Sunday's first game, 19-6.  Everybody in the IHCC lineup had at least one hit and eight of the starting nine scored at least once and had at least one RBI.

There were three four-run innings and the big frame was the 5th when IHCC tallied seven runs.

Taylor Ostrich had four hits and three runs, Hermann, Polanco and Joel Booker each had three hits and Santos and Lebron had two apiece.  Polanco scored four times and had three RBIs.

Christian Torres and Joelfi Arias benefited from the offensive explosion as they combined on a six-hitter for the Falcons.  Each struck out five batters.  Torres went the first five innings and got the win.

IHCC capped the weekend by scoring a run in the 6th and two in the 7th to take the final game, 7-6.  Booker singled home the sixth-inning run, then singled again to drive in the game-winner in the 7th after Ostrich had doubled home a run to tie the score.

Kawlewski and Alsis Herrera retired the side in order in the bottom of the 7th, Herrera getting the final out for the save.  Indian Hills used seven pitchers in the game.

Booker had three hits and four RBIs and Ostrich and Polanco had a pair of hits each.

Indian Hills left town with a six-game winning streak and a 21-14 record, 10-6 in the conference.