COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Marshalltown Community College baseball team built a nine-run lead and held on to salvage a split against NJCAA Division I No. 12 Iowa Western in Saturday’s Iowa Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader.
MCC won the nightcap 12-10 after Iowa Western claimed the opener 8-4.
The Tigers (19-29, 8-14) scored seven runs in the first inning of game two, sending 13 batters to the plate. The frame was highlighted by a Snayder Ruiz two-run single, and a Kaleb Hanks two-run triple. Ruiz finished game two with three RBIs while Hanks and Diogen Ceballos each drove in two. Jose Mieses, Ceballos and Adam Barrett had two hits apiece, both doubles for Ceballos, as the Tigers rapped out 12 hits in the victory.
The Reivers (40-14, 19-3) got seven runs back between the fourth and fifth innings to pull within two, but MCC came back with three in the sixth. The Tigers needed them all, as Iowa Western plated three in the bottom of the seventh.
Barrett tossed 3 1/3 innings on the mound, giving up five runs (two earned) on six hits, three walks and two strikeouts to earn the win. Greg Glass struck out the only batter he faced for the save.
Luis Duran was the only Tiger with multiple hits in game one, as John Magnuson drove in two runs. Juan Carlos Gonzalez took the loss on the bump, giving up eight runs (four earned) in five innings pitched on six hits, walked another five and fanned three.
Both teams close out the regular season today with another doubleheader. First pitch between the Tigers and Reivers is slated for noon.