Offense dominates in Game 1, falls asleep in Game 2

LIBERAL, Kansas - The first five hitters in the Iowa Western lineup accounted for nine runs on nine hits, two doubles, and eight runs batted in during game one's five-inning contest.

Freshman designated hitter David Bruchu (2-for-3, 2 R) started off the third inning with a single to right-center field. The next four batters would all have hits to attribute to the five run third inning. Freshman center fielder Ryan Popescu (2-for-4, 2R) had a drag bunt for a hit, and sophomore left fielder Tanner Moore (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) bunted with runners on first and third to score Bruchu.

Freshman third baseman Damek Tomscha drove in Popescu on a single to left-center field and advanced to second on the throw. Both Moore and Tomscha scored when sophomore right fielder Adam Lavelle (2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI) laced a double down the left field line and put the Reivers ahead 5-0.

Eight Reivers hit in the fourth inning before Seward County recorded their first out. Freshman second baseman Sam Bumpers (1-for-2, R, SAC, 2 RBI) started the inning with a line-drive off the Saints starting pitcher, Keegan Hucul. Bruchu singled past Hucul on a sacrifice bunt attempt and Propescu loaded the bases with an infield single. Moore drove the first run in as he was hit by a pitch, and Tomscha followed with a 2-run single to force the Saints to go to their bullpen. Lavelle welcomed reliever Ty Thomas with an RBI single and sophomore first baseman Kevin Starr smashed an RBI double to right field. Freshman catcher John Mulgrue moved Starr to third base on a single and Bumpers drove in Starr on a sacrifice fly to finish the seven run inning.

Freshman right-handed pitcher A.J. Gaura (5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) went the distance for the Reivers to earn his first collegiate win. After facing five hitters in the first inning and four hitters in the second inning, Gaura sat the opposing team down 1-2-3 in the third and fourth innings. Gaura faced four hitters in the fifth inning and struck out the last two to for the 12-run win in Game 1. The losing pitcher from Seward County was Keegan Hucul (3.0 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K) ______________________________________________________________________________

In Game 2, Iowa Western produced its only two hits of the game in the second and third innings and brought 13 hitters to the plate in the first three innings. Six of the game's 10 runs would be scored in the fourth inning.

Kevin Starr walked to start the inning. Freshman designated hitter Tony Shicktanz  sacrificed Starr to second base and ssophomore center fielder Mitch Warne walked before Sam Bumpers hit a rocket off of the third baseman's mitt to score Starr. The game was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, when second baseman Carlos Dorado led the inning off with a single. Steven Polito hit an RBI double, Jake Barrios added an RBI single, and designated hitter JT Bean brought in two runs on a double to right-center field.

The lead for the Saints was back to five runs. Freshman catcher Mike Wieland led the top of the fifth inning off with a walk, Damek Tomscha was hit by a pitch and Kevin Starr loaded the bases up by drawing a walk. Shicktanz drove in Wieland on a ball hit to the shortstop and that was the end of the day offensively for the Reivers.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Paul Poirier suffered the loss (3.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3K). Relievers out of the Iowa Western bullpen were freshman right-handers Pascal Paul(1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) and Jared Gottberg (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K). The winning pitcher for Seward was Austin Beisel (4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K).

The Reivers will be back in action on Friday, February 18, as they play a double header against Neosho Community College in Chanute, KS. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM CST.