Reivers Sweep 4-game series with Muscatine; now 28-1

The Reivers played weekend host to Muscatine CC in a 4-game ICCAC series. The Reivers won all four games, stretching their overall record to 28-1, and 9-1 in conference play.

Game 1:

Muscatine             5

Iowa Western     16

The Reivers sent Jake Thompson to mound in the series opener. In the opening frame, the Cardinals of Muscatine came out swinging, as the first batter of the game lined a base hit to center and the next batter followed with a 2-run homerun to right. Four pitches into the weekend and the Reivers were down 2-0.

The offense would waste no time coming to the aid of Thompson, as Tanner Krietemeier and Steven Leonard started the bottom of the 1st with back-to-back singles, followed by a Damek Tomscha RBI double. Grant Kay would add a triple to plate two runs before he scored on a balk. Just like that the Reivers had the lead at 4-2.

In the 3rd the Cardinals would rally again, plating 3 runs, the big blow being a 2-out 2-run double. One again, the Reivers found themselves in a hole, now trailing 5-4. But the Cardinal lead would be short lived.

Tomscha and Meyer opened the 3rd inning with back-to-back doubles. Keeton Steele and Ryan Popescu would cap off the rally with RBI hits of their own, and a 4 run inning put the Reivers back in front, this time for good.

Thompson would settle in, only allowing one more base runner the rest of the way, while the Reiver bats blew the game wide open with a 5-run 5th, and 3 runs in the 5th. Levi Meyer blasted a 2-run homerun in the 5th to extend the Reiver lead to 11, ending the game after 5 innings by the score of 16-5.

Game 2:

Muscatine            1

Iowa Western     18 

In game two of the series, Iowa Western wasted no time creating separation as AJ gaura retired Muscatine in order in the first, and the offense scored 6 runs to give them a comfortable lead early. After Muscatine got on the board with a solo home run in the second, the Reivers put to rest any thought of a comeback, as the offense sent 14 batters to the plate on the way to scoring 9 runs in the bottom half of the inning.

In that monster second inning, every player in the Iowa-Western Line up scored a run, while Alex Greer and Damek Tomscha both hit home runs, two of  the Reiver's six extra base hits in the inning.

Aj Gaura went the distance allowing just 2 hits and face just 3 over the minimum.

Tomscha led the offense on the day going 7 for 8 with a homerun, two doubles and four runs driven in.

Game 3:

Muscatice              1

Iowa Western        6

The two teams met again for a double header on Sunday. Tanner Krietemeier took the mound and was in control for the start. After setting Muscatine down in order to start the game, Krietemeier gave up a lead off home run in the second, his only mistake he made all day, as the future Oklahoma State Cowboy would retire the next 13 Cardinal batter that came to the plate.

Krietemeier would go the distance for Iowa Western, allowing just the one run on two hits and striking out nine.

The offense for the Reivers would be largely supplied the middle infielders, as both Grant Kay and Adam Morey hit home runs while Brett Bass, Iseha Conklin and Damek Tomscha all also had RBI's.

Krietemeier on the mound this season is now 5-0 with a 0.67 ERA. In his 27 innings pitched, he has 45 strikeouts while only surrendering 6 walks.

Game 4:

Muscatine                 1

Iowa Western           8

In the series finale, The Reivers were slower coming out of the gates. The Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead after a starting pitcher Andy Roberts balked with 2-outs and a runner at 3rd.

After scoring a run to tie the game in the 3rd, the Reivers would take the lead in the 4th inning, scoring three runs behind the strength of doubles off the bats of Steele and Bumpers. Steven Leonard capped off the rally with a 2-run single, giving Iowa western a 4-1 lead, a lead they wouldn't give up. David Bruchu and Damek Tomscha would add home runs in the 5th and 6th to put the game firmly out of reach, and securing the series sweep for the Reivers.

The sweep gives the Reivers their 11th consecutive win after suffering their first loss of the season. The streak is enough to put the Reivers back on top of ICCAC standings with a 9-1 record in conference play.