Reivers Avenge Only Loss; Sweep Indian Hills to improve to 38-1

The Number 1 Ranked Iowa Western Reivers traveled to Centerville on the weekend to take the Falcons of Indian Hills. The last time these two teams met, it was the Falcons that ended the Reivers perfect start to the season. Having not lost a game since, the Reivers were sitting on a 5 game lead over IHCC in the ICCAC standings.

Game 1:

Iowa Western     16

Indian Hills           9

In the opening game of the series, the Reivers would face some adversity from the start, normal Game 1 starter Jake Thompson was a late scratch due to illness, so freshman pitcher Mike Hanchar would get the spot start on the mound.

The Reivers offense would back Hanchar right from the start, as Tanner Krietemeier led off the game with an opposite field home run to left, his 7th home run of the season, giving the Reivers a quick 1-0 lead.

Krietemeier would deliver again in the second inning with a 2-out RBI single to score Greer to put the Reivers ahead 3-0.

This season, the big inning is what has lifted the Reivers in so many games, in this game, that inning came in the 3rd, as the offense would score 5 runs. The most damage coming with 2 outs as Damek Tomscha and Levi Meyer would hit back-to-back home runs to put Iowa Western up 8-0.

Indian Hills would get back into the game in the bottom of the frame when DH Jason Bonilla hit a grand slam to cut the lead in half.

The Reivers were again quick to respond as they added 3 runs in the 5th with RBI's from David Bruchu and Krietemeier. They would add two more in the 6th inning, and 3 in the 7th to provide the pitching staff with some breathing room.

Mike Hanchar went 5 1/3 innings, and Pascal Paul would finish the game as the Reivers took game one of the series 16-9

Game 2:

Iowa Western    3

Indian Hills        2

In the second game of the series, the recipe for victory would be good pitching, strong defense and timely hitting. 

Starting pitcher for the Reivers AJ Gaura provided his best start of the season when his team needed it most. In 5 IP, Gaura would allow just one unearned run on 4 hits while striking out 6 and walking none.

Damek Tomscha got the scoring started in the first inning when he launched his second home run of the day to give the Reivers a 1-0 lead. Indian Hills would tie the game in the in the third after the leadoff hitter in the inning reached on an error and later scored on a double. Iowa Western would take back the lead on a RBI fielders choice in the 4th inning.

To hold on to the lead, the Reivers got big performances from unlikely heroes. In the top of the 6th, David Bruchu believer a 2-out RBI double to score Steven Leonard and provide the Reivers with some insurance. In the bottom of the 6th, Coach Rardin turned to normal starting pitching Andy Roberts to get the final 6 outs.

After allowing a double and a single, the Reiver lead was now 3-2. The Falcons had the tying run on first with one out when David Bruchu tracked down a ball and made a great play to take away extra bases and possibly to keep the tying run from scoring. On the next pitch, Andy Roberts picked of the Indian Hills runner and the threat was over. Roberts would retire the Falcons in order in the 7th and secure the win for the Reivers 3-2

Game 3:

Iowa Western     8

Indian Hills           5

Game 3 provided the Reivers with their shot at revenge as they would face the only pitcher to beat them this season.

After squandering an opportunity in the 1st, the Reivers would strike in the second inning for 2 runs as Keeton Steele and Brett Bass delivered RBI's. They would add a run in the third when Levi Meyer delivered an RBI single, and 3 more runs in the 4th with back-to-back hits from Meyer, Tomscha and Krietemeier, giving them a 6-0 lead.

Starting pitcher/DH Tanner krietemeier got in his first jam in the 4th when he allowed two runs, but got out of the inning with a 6-4-3 double play.

Brett Bass extended the lead in the 5th inning with his second home run of the season.

After allowing more runs in the 5th inning, John Roberts and Kyle Gehrs combine to close the game for the Reivers as they would win the game and clinch a series victory by the score of 8-5.

Game 4

Iowa Western     2

Indian Hills         0

The series finale would be a pitchers duel from start to finish. The Reivers would use 4 pitchers in the game who would combine for the shutout.

Jake Thompson, who was feeling better, got the start and pitched 4 scoreless innings, striking out 8 and walking none. Zach Larrison would pitch a scoreless 5th and James Darcy a scoreless 6th.

The Reivers got the first run of the game in the 4th inning when Damek Tomscha led off the inning with a base hit, and stole second. Brandon Tiereny drove him in with two outs to score the games first run.

It would be the only run of the game until Gabriel Devarona provided some insurance with a big home run to right-center giving the Reivers a 2-0 lead.

Keeton Steel would come in for the save in the 7th, and sat the Falcons down in order to seal the win and the series sweep.

The Reivers improve to 38-1 on the season, and 19-1 in ICCAC play. Their next action come next weekend as they travel to Muscatine CC for a 4-game conference series.