The 8th ranked Reivers hosted their last conference regular-season series with a four-game set with North Iowa Area Community College. The Trojans came into town riding a winning streak, but the Reiver bats and arms put an end to that streak with four impressive wins. The Team 47 Reivers pounded out 45 hits in four games and struck out 40 Trojans on the Weekend.

Game 1:

The Reivers bats came alive in Game 1 of the series vs NIACC. After holding the Trojans to no runs in the top of the first, the Reiver offense jumped out to a lead scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the first inning. The NIACC Trojans added 1 run in the top of the third to cut the lead to 5-1. But in the bottom of the third, the offensive rhythm continued when the Reivers exploded for 12 runs to extend the lead to 17-1. The game ended in 5 innings due to run-rule. The Reivers won 17-1. Peyton Zabel (7-1) collected the win and dominated on the mound throwing 5.0 innings, giving up 4 hits and only 1 earned run while striking out 7. The Reivers were led by Dylan Roberston who went 2 for 4 with 6 RBI's. 4 of those coming on a Grand Slam in the 12 run third inning. Aaron Staehely, Carter Wright, Noah Hull, and Kyle Huckstorf all collected 2 hits for the Reivers.

Game 2:

Evan O' Toole took the mound for the Reivers to start game 2 on Saturday. The NIACC Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead after scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. But it did not take the Reivers long to answer, the offense once again exploded, scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Reivers added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 13-2. The NIACC bats were held in check until the top of the sixth when they added a couple more runs to cut the lead to 13-4. Once again, the Reivers answered scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh inning which ended the game due to run-rule. The Reivers won game 2: 14-4. Evan O'Toole earned the win and improved to (9-0) while going 5.0 innings giving up only 2 earned runs and striking out 6. Brayden Berry came in relief for 2.0 innings giving up only 2 hits, 2 earned runs, and had 4 strikeouts for the Reivers. The Iowa Western offense was led by Logan Jordan who went 4-4 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored, and Thatcher Kozal who went 3-3 with 3 RBI's one coming on a home run. Benjamin Palmer, Trenton Harris, and Dylan Robertson all had multi-hit and multi-RBI games for the Reivers.

Game 3:

Harrison Cook (7-1) took the mound for the Reivers in Game 1 on Sunday. He was dominant throwing 4.0 scoreless innings while allowing only 3 hits and struck out 6 Trojan batters. In the bottom of the second inning, the Reivers scored 2 runs, one on a Thatcher Kozal RBI Triple, and another on Brady Prewitt's RBI single. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Reivers extended their lead to 4-0 as Jacob Shamban reached on a fielder's choice that scored a run, followed by Kyle Huckstorf's RBI triple. The Trojans were held in check until in the top of the sixth when they added their first run of the day with a Homerun. That cut the Iowa Western lead to 4-1. The Reivers then added 4 more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend the lead to 8-1.  Will Stevens came in relief for the Reivers throwing 3.0 innings, while giving up 1 hit and 1 run, he also struck out 6. The Reivers took game 1 of the day 8-1. The Iowa Western offense was led by Kyle Huckstorf who went 2-4 with a Triple, Double, and 2 RBI's. Thatcher Kozal and Brady Prewitt each added 2 hits and an RBI. Jacob Shamban also added a hit and drove in 2 runs.

Game 4:

The Reiver offense opened up game 2 on Sunday with 3 runs in the first inning. In the top of the second, they added two more to extend the lead to 5-0.  Caleb Riedel took the hill for the Reivers and went 2.0 scoreless innings, not allowing a hit and striking out 4 Trojan hitters. Samson Holcomb then entered the game, he also threw 2.0 scoreless innings allowing only 1 hit and struck out 1. The Trojans were held in check until the sixth inning when they scratched 1 run. The Reivers answered in the bottom of the sixth inning adding two more runs to extend the lead to 7-1. The Trojans cut into the Reiver lead in the top of the seventh scoring 4 to cut the Reiver lead to 7-5. Iowa western was able to quiet the Trojan bats in the top of the eighth inning to keep the score 7-5. The Reivers then added 2 insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to 9-5. Iowa Western was able to hold the Trojans to just 1 run in the top of the ninth inning and the Reivers took game 4 of the series 9-6. Tyler Rardin threw 2.0 innings allowing only 2 hits and 1 run while striking out 3. Jake Leger also saw action on the mound throwing 1.2 innings, allowing only 1 hit, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. Noah Manning earned the save, his 3rd of the year going 1.0 inning, while allowing 1 hit and 1 run, and struck out 1. The Reiver offense was led by Thatcher Kozal who went 2-3 with a home run, and 3 RBI's. Carter Wright, Clayton Cutter, and Jaden Brown all tallied 2 hits for Iowa Western.

With the four-game sweep, the Reivers are now 47-8, they will host the first round of the conference tournament at Doc Ross Field. The first pitch is set for 11 am on Saturday, May 8th, and if necessary May 9th. All games can be watched on the Reiver Sports Network.

Follow Reivers Baseball on social media:

Twitter | https://twitter.com/ReiverBaseball
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/Reiverbaseball
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/iowawesternbaseball/

#SailsUP