Hellige helps Hounds avoid sweep at Keokuk

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KEOKUK - Fort Madison freshman Luke Hellige threw a complete game in the night cap at Keokuk Thursday night to help the Hounds avoid a sweep.

Hellige gave up just one earned run going the distance on the mound, while striking out three to get his first varsity win.

Fort Madison (9-4, 5-3) avoided a three-game losing streak downing the Chiefs 6-2 after losing the opener 8-3.

In the second game, the Bloodhounds opened the scoring in the first inning, putting up two runs both with two outs. Senior Tate Johnson doubled to center field after fouling off the first three pitches scoring Kane Williams who reached on a single.

Johnson would come around to score after Tanner Settles got plunked and Matt Hopper singled. Settles advanced to third on Hopper's hit and was caught trying to steal home in a double steal to end the inning.

The Hounds would add another run in the third when Johnson recorded his second RBI of the night driving Williams in again on a single to left. Keokuk would get on the board in the bottom of the third when Nick Profeta scored on Brenton Hoard's single to right to make it 3-1. Hellige would entice a fly out to end the inning.

Fort Madison would add one in the fourth and Keokuk would answer with one for a 4-2 Hounds lead after four.

The Hounds started hot in the top of the fifth with the first three hitters reaching base. Landes WIlliams would single scoring Brody Cashman with no outs. Henry Wiseman would steal home after moving to third on Landes Williams hit, but the Hounds would then go down in order to retire the side at 6-2 Fort Madison.

Neither team would score in the final frame giving Hellige his first win of the year. Johnson led the Hounds at the plate going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Kane Williams and Caden Barnes both had two hit nights.

Josh Wills took the loss for Keokuk (7-6, 3-5 Southeast Conference) giving up all six runs earned while striking out three. Jordan Sisk finished up the game in the seventh striking out one and giving up one hit. Brenton Hoard and Zach Meyers had two-hit games for the Chiefs.

In the opener Keokuk put up two in the first inning and three in the bottom of the sixth to get the win.

Fort Madison had eight hits in the game to each from Landes Williams and Johnson, but only managed to plate three runners one each in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to suffer their fourth loss of the year.

The Hounds went the distance with Hopper who gave eight runs, three earned on eight hits striking out one and walking two.

Hopper had things under control early in the first getting two outs before Keokuk scored, but an error at third in the first at-bat put a runner on. A two-out single by Blake Chase scored one and back-to-back singles scored another for a 2-0 lead after one.

Fort Madison would get on the board in the third. Caden Barnes drew a walk and Aidan Pennock doubled to center moving courtesy runner Aiden Mitchell to third. Mitchell would score on Landes Williams sacrifice fly.

Hopper would retire the side in order in the bottom half and then Fort Madison would add a run when Tate Johnson tripled and scored on Settles sacrifice fly for a 2-2 game.

Keokuk would score again in the bottom half when Brendan Worster scored on a fielder's choice to put the Chiefs up 3-2. The Chiefs added two in the bottom of the fifth and three in the sixth. Fort Madison would put up just one run in the sixth after having the bases loaded with one out.

Reiburn Turnbull singled with two outs in the top of the seventh, but the Hounds couldn't bring him in.

Fort Madison dropped a game Wednesday to Mediapolis 12-3. The Hounds used four pitchers in the loss and managed just three hits, two from Hopper and one by Settles.

The Hounds host Muscatine in a doubleheader tonight starting at 5:30 p.m.

bloodhounds, fort madison, iowa, Keokuk, lee county, Pen City Current, sports, varsity

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