Little Cyclones run series streak to 11 games over Marshalltown
The Marshalltown baseball team played Ames as close as it had in the previous nine meetings, but the moral victory was all the Bobcats had to show for the night.
The Little Cyclones fought off Marshalltown for a 6-4 win in the opening game of Tuesday’s Iowa Alliance Conference North Division doubleheader, but it was all Ames in the nightcap, 16-0.
The series streak ran to 11-straight wins for Ames (19-10, 10-0), while the conference losing streak slipped to 16 for the Bobcats (6-17, 0-8). Marshalltown nearly knocked off the Little Cyclones in the first game, but it was a knockout by Ames in Game 2.
In the opening game, Ames grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning with the benefit of just one hit. MHS starting pitcher Luke Stalzer walked two and hit two batters, and Max Martin doubled and scored for the Little Cyclones.
Ames made it 4-0 in the second with two runs on just one hit against Tayven Dutton, who walked the first two batters he faced before nearly escaping the jam. Martin again delivered for the Little Cyclones, dropping an RBI single into right field to put his team ahead by four.
Marshalltown’s comeback started innocently enough, as Zander Stupp was hit by a pitch before being forced out at second on Garrett Thede’s fielder’s choice grounder. Madden Martin followed with a single, Larrs Schoenfelder loaded the bases with a bunt single, and Thede’s courtesy runner Cooper McLeod scored on Aiden Holmgren’s two-out walk. Another walk by Ames pitcher Sullivan Enfield gave Sam Greazel first base and forced in Martin, and John Schoenfelder greeted relief pitcher Austin Naber with a two-run double to left on his first pitch.
Dutton nearly put the Bobcats on top, but his long fly ball to left was caught to end the surge.
The Little Cyclones pieced together three hits in the top of the seventh against Greazel, scoring twice to take a 6-4 lead, and Marshalltown nearly responded. Greazel got on with an error and Dutton reached with a one-out walk. Stupp’s infield pop-up over second base forced Greazel back to the bag, but he and Dutton were doubled up when the ball wasn’t caught, and Ames claimed the victory.
Greazel got the loss for his 1 2/3 innings of relief work, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk. John Schoenfelder led the Bobcats with two hits, while Greazel, Thede, Martin, Larrs Schoenfelder and Holmgren had one each.
Any momentum MHS gained from pushing Ames to the limit in Game 1 was eviscerated in the first inning of Game 2, as the Little Cyclones lashed out against Stupp with eight runs on six hits, two walks and a hit batter. Ames hit four doubles in the inning and led 8-0 before the Bobcats got the chance to bat.
Marshalltown managed just three hits in the nightcap, however, as Jameson Webber and Carson Howard combined to strike out nine, walk none and hit two batters.
Greazel, Dutton and Martin had Marshalltown’s singles. Stupp was tagged for the loss, surrendering eight runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out one.
It was a tough Senior Night for the Bobcats, who celebrated their eldest trio of Dutton, Greazel and Stupp. MHS won’t have time to lick the wounds, however, as their doubleheader at Fort Dodge has been moved up to Wednesday at noon at Ed Barbour Field on the campus of Iowa Central Community College.
“In Game 1, I was pleased with our guys efforts to come back late, but early free passes is the difference maker,” said Bobcat head coach Colton Hanke. “The free passes continued into Game 2 and we put ourselves into a hole early. We have to flush tonight and be ready to go tomorrow.”
Marshalltown closes the week Friday with a twinbill at Waterloo East.
