Demons slip by Hounds in twinbill sweep

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BY ETHAN LILLARD
PCC STAFF

WASHINGTON- Fort Madison has lost the first game of a doubleheader five out of the six times this year. The good news is in half of those games, the Bloodhounds have come back to win game two, including Tuesday's contest at Fort Madison when the Bloodhounds split two games with Washington.

Taking on Washington again in another double header Thursday night, Washington took game one again, this time 4-1. The Hounds stayed within one run of the Demons the entire second game, but a run in the fourth inning proved to be the difference maker, as Washington took game two as well 2-1.

“Tip your hat to this team,” Fort Madison Head Coach Ron Walker said of his guys. “They are playing winning baseball and playing hard. It's a new culture and they're adapting well for 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18-year olds. We ask a lot of them and I think they're doing a great job. Fourteen games into the season, I couldn't be happier with the growing process and how they are responding.”

GAME ONE

Jordyn Gerdes and Dayne Cordray may be the No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers in the rotation, but after Thursday, there may be a couple new arms for Walker to lean on down the stretch.

Coming into Thursday, Brandon Reichelt had tossed just 3 2/3 innings from the mound. On Thursday he went 5 2/3 strong.

Landes Williams reached base safely to start the first inning. Williams then advanced to third during the next two at bats before Reichelt singled to plate Williams and help his own cause, giving the Bloodhounds the 1-0 advantage.

Fort Madison maintained the 1-0 lead all the way to the fifth inning before Washington busted the game open.

Kole Hinrchsen walked to start the home half of the fifth, before back-to-back singles plated the first run of the game for the Demons. A double from Luke Turner followed the singles, scoring two runs for a 3-1 Washington lead.

Trevor Quigley started the bottom of the sixth inning with a single, before Mitchell Driscoll singled as well to put runners on the corners for the Demons with two outs. Quigley was able to score on a past ball at home for the 4-1 lead before Reichelt forced a pop out to end the inning.

The Bloodhounds put two runners on base in the top of the seventh to give themselves a fighting chance, but a pop out to first base gave Washington game one 4-1.

“(Reichelt) did a great job of being around the zone all day and competing and letting the defense work,” Walker said. “That fourth inning we allowed a lead-off walk to the eight hitter. It kind of got us in trouble there Tuesday night also. It started the inning for them and they found a few holes and got a few runs on the board.”

Reichelt had the lone RBI of the game for Fort Madison, while being just one of three Hounds to collect a hit. Reed Fehseke and Cordray also had a hit each. Reichelt tossed 97 pitches over his six innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs while striking out six.

Motivated by the fact they were able to come back and take game two 9-1 on Tuesday, the Bloodhounds were geared up and ready for game two.

“Here we are again guys,” Walker said to his team in-between games. “I said, 'We were in this position Tuesday night. Lets come out and get a win in game two and see what happens.”

GAME TWO

Landes Williams drew the start in game two and despite the lack of time on the mound so far this season, Williams handled himself well.

In the bottom of the first inning, Washington was able to steal a run, as they started the home half of the first with a Brandon Stout walk. Stout then proceeded to steal second and advance to third on a wild pitch before a Cade Hennigan groundout plated Stout for the first run of the contest.

That one run was the difference maker.

The Bloodhounds were able to plate their first run in the top of the third. Jace Burgher drew a walk and stole second during Landes Williams' at bat. He then advanced to third on a Williams groundout, before coming in to score on a wild pickoff attempt at first to tie the game at 1-1.

The Demons scored one final run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hennigan drew a walk, before stealing second and then moving to third on a Brady Knutson single. Like the Bloodhounds, Hennigan was able to come in and score on a wild pitch, giving Washington the 2-1 lead.

Despite Williams and Jason Thurman combining to allow just one more hit over the next two innings, the one run was enough to give the Demons game two and the sweep with the 2-1 victory.

“Tonight we may have taken two losses in the win loss column, but as a team,. We're a better team,” Walker said. “This is the first time this year I feel we came out and competed 14 innings solid without some mental lapses … We had some mental lapses in those two wins (against Keokuk). I really thought our kids came out and competed for 14 innings and did a great job.”

Vasin Thurman and Cordray collected the lone hits in game two for Fort Madison. Williams tossed 71 pitches over his 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and two earned runs while striking out two batters. Thurman threw 1/3 of an inning and recorded a strikeout.

Fort Madison's next contest is Saturday against Burlington Notre Dame at home.

baseball, bloodhounds, double header, fort madison, Pen City Current, varsity, Washington

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