Pitching Shines as Reivers Push Winning Streak to 10

The pitching staff rattled off 4 gems as the Reivers sweep Ridgewater in a 4 game set at Doc Ross Field.  The Reivers struck out 32 in 24-innings, posting 2 shutouts during the 4 game series.

In Game 1, Sophomore Sean Chandler (RHP, Bellevue, NE) (Last week's NJCAA Pitcher of the week) followed his previous outing by giving up 2 hits and striking out 7 in 5 innings of work.  Freshman Jacob Gilbert (RHP, Ankeny, IA) then toed the rubber for his college debut and completed the shutout racking up 2 strikeouts of his own.  The Reiver offense was lead by Sophomore Kobe Hyland (IF, Spruce Grove, ALB, Can) who went 2-2 with a 2B and a 3B, a HBP, and 2-runs scored.  The Reivers took Game 1 by a score of 5-0.

Game 2 looked familiar as Freshman Marius Balandis (RHP, Lockport, IL) struck out 6 in just 4 innings and scattering 2 hits.  The bullpen got to work as Freshman Jordan Bonk (RHP, Victoria, MN), Freshman Jonny McIntyre (RHP, Wichita, KS), and Sophomore Breyden Eckhout (UTL, Amherst, NE) finished out the final 3 innings striking out 3 and giving up 2 runs.  Freshman Ronald Sweeny III (IF, Woodbury, MN) notched his first collegiate hit and RBI as he went 1-2.  Iowa Western won Game 2 7-2.

Game 3 saw the Reiver offense come alive as they rattled off 10 hits, 13 runs in the 13-1 victory in 5-innings.  Sophomore Tyler Reichenborn (OF, Brookland Park, MN) went 3-4 with 2 SBs and 2 runs while Freshman Isaiah Peterson (OF, Lincoln, NE) saw his first college homerun to be of the inside-the-park type as he went 2-2, 4 RBIs, 2 runs, and a HBP for the game.  Sophomore Indigo Diaz (RHP, Vancouver, BC, Can) picked up his 3rd win of the season in as many starts as he struck out 6 in 4 innings.

Game 4 picked up where Game 3 finished with the Reivers tallying 10 hits, 14 runs in a 14-0 shutout victory in 5-innings. Freshman Mason Speirs (C, Westminster, CO) went 2-2 on the day with 2 runs and 2 RBIs while Sophomore John Hawk (C, McClelland, IA) went 2-3 with a 2B.  All 9 hitters crossed the plate during the 5-inning run rule.  The pitching staff was busy as the Reivers threw 5 guys each for 1 inning in the victory, giving Sophomore Ben Dotzler (RHP, Ida Grove, IA) his second win of the year.

The Reivers have a busy week as they host NJCAA D2 Ranked Iowa Central (#13) in a 4-Game Series on 3/13-3/14 and NJCAA D2 Ranked NIACC (#29) on 3/17-3/18 for a 4 Game set of their own.