Jamestown, NC— One day after dropping a pair of games to Guilford Technical Community College, the Marshalltown Community College Baseball team responded with two drubbings of the Titans on Sunday. The Tigers took game one 16-7 and needed just six innings to win game two, 12-2.
The Tiger offense was firing on all cylinders on Sunday, a common statement for the team this year. MCC's 28 runs on the day gave the team 82 for the year, an average of 10.3 runs per game this season. A majority of the runs were produced by the long ball as the Tigers connected on seven home runs on the day, including five in game one. The team has produced at least two home runs in each of the last five games.
Enmanuel Lopez (Santiago, Dominican Republic/Prepara) recorded three hits on the day, but all three left the ball park with two coming in the game one rout. The freshman produced eight RBI and scored six runs in the afternoon sweep. Joining Lopez with home runs in game one for the Tigers were Luis Duran (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Centro de Estudio Espaillat), Diogen Ceballos (La Vega, Dominican Republic/Liceo la Romana) and Hunter Embray (Knoxville, IA/Twin Cedars). Bryan Ventura (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Continental) added his second home run of the season in the game two victory.
The five home runs in the single game are the most for the Tigers dating back to the 2010 season.
Lopez's day began with a two-run home run in the first inning of game one to put the Tigers on the board. MCC played small ball in the second inning, using two singles and three walks to their advantage until Duran sent the first pitch he saw over the centerfield wall for a grand slam. Embray added a solo shot in the third and Lopez drilled his second two-run home run in the fourth. A three-run home run from Ceballos in the seventh capped off the scoring for the Tigers.
Sophomore Austin Gridley (Fairfield, IA/Fairfield) picked up his second win of the season, tossing four innings while striking out three batters. JD Barr (South Sioux City, NE/Bishop Heelan Catholic) pitched the final three innings and struck out five batters to earn the three-inning save.
MCC put up a five spot in the second inning of game two thanks to a three-run home run from Ventura. The Tigers added three more runs in the fourth, including an RBI-single from Marcus Wittmer (Pella, IA/Pella). Duran came around to score in the sixth and Lopez sent a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield wall for a three-run home run in the sixth.
While the offense thrived in the nightcap, freshman starting pitcher Noel Diaz (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/CENAPEC) tossed six innings, allowing just two earned runs. Diaz earned his first-career win after striking out five batters while not issuing a walk.
Logan Holtz (Urbana, IA/Center Point-Urbana) had another strong showing for the Tigers in game one, going 3-5 at the plate with three runs scored.
Through eight games this season, the Tigers currently rank fifth in the nation in slugging percentage at .664. Team team's .380 batting average is the eighth-best mark in the nation.
The Tigers return back to the Midwest and will travel to Crowder College for a four-game series on March 5-6.
