Jimmies earn split in S.D.
The Jamestown College baseball team had their 10-game winning streak snapped in Redfield, S.D. on Wednesday.By: Michael Savaloja, The Jamestown Sun
The Jamestown College baseball team had their 10-game winning streak snapped in Redfield, S.D. on Wednesday.
But the story of night was Jimmie junior pitcher Kacy Gardiner, who hurled a 2-hit shutout as the Jimmies bounced back to split a doubleheader vs. a stout Morningside College team.
The Jimmies (26-12-1) return to Jack Brown Stadium this Saturday and Sunday, where they’ll host Dickinson State University in a pair of DAC and A.I.I doubleheaders.
Mustangs 5, Jimmies 4
The Jimmies had Morningside College (31-15) on the ropes, as they led 4-2 heading into the seventh frame, but the Mustangs pushed three runs across the plate in the top of the inning to sneak past Jamestown College by one run.
“Morningside has a very good baseball team and we feel like we played some great baseball today for 13 innings,” JC coach Tom Hager said. “Unfortunately, the seventh inning in the first game cost us two wins.”
The Mustangs were able to get to Jimmie closer Nick Smart in the final inning, but it wasn’t because a lack of effort, according to Hager.
“We had the guy we wanted in the game (Smart), but he just got behind a few hitters and you have to give them credit,” Hager said. “It wasn’t any kind of blowup, they just did what they had to do to put runs on the board.
“Nick is our closer and we want to be able to go to him late in the game. You have to tip your hat to Morningside.”
The Mustangs swept the Jimmies earlier in the season. On March 18, Morningside College defeated the Jimmies 12-5 and 5-4 in Sioux City, Iowa.
Jamestown College scored 2 runs in the bottom of the third on Wednesday to jump out in front. Senior catcher Joe Perez went 2-for-3 with a double, while senior Derek Wallace belted a solo home run for the Jimmies in the sixth inning.
Junior Ben Watkins started the game on the mound for Jamestown College. Watkins, a native of LaMoure, allowed no runs through five innings of work and struck out five.
The Mustangs collected 7 hits, all singles.
“We feel we played good baseball against a very good team,” Hager said, “and I’m very happy how we were able to come back in Game 2 and take care of business.”
Jimmies 6, Mustangs 0
It’s safe to say, the Mustangs had a hard time figuring out Jamestown College pitcher Kacy Gardiner.
The junior from Boise, Idaho went all seven innings, striking out six and allowing just 2 hits as the Jimmies loaded the bus happy.
“Gardiner was outstanding. He set the tone from the first pitch and that really got us going,” Hager said. “He was getting ahead of hitters from the very beginning, and I tell you what. Anytime you throw a shutout against a team that’s won 30 games, it’s a heck of an accomplishment.”
The Jimmies scored one in the first and three in the second, and that’s all the offense they’d need. Perez went 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs, while Max Boe went 2-for-3 with a double and Wallace batted 2-for-3 with an RBI single.
The Jimmies were able to bang out 10 hits against Morningside’s John Sorenson and Steven Stange.
“We were able to take advantage of a few walks, put the ball in play and score runs,” Hager said. “We felt like we owed (the Mustangs) from early in the season. We would have liked to have got two today, but the fact we played some real good baseball, we’ll take it.”
Hager and the Jimmies are hoping that continues this weekend against the Blue Hawks.
“This sets the tone for our four-game series at home against Dickinson State,” Hager said. “We need to keep playing good baseball. We’ve been pretty darn consistent over the last few weeks. Dickinson State is a good team, and we’ll have to keep it rolling.”
Morningside College 5, Jamestown College 4
Mustangs 000 200 3 — 5 7 0
Jimmies 002 011 0 — 4 7 2
John Russell, John Bothwell, Bobby Lee (7), Alex Groth (7) and Adison Gillett. Ben Watkins, Nick Smart (6), Kacy Gardiner (7) and Joe Perez. W—Groth. L—Smart
Jamestown College 6, Morningside College 0
Mustangs 000 000 0 — 0 2 0
Jimmies 130 020 x — 6 10 1
John Sorenson, Steven Stange (2) and Adison Gillett. Kacy Gardiner and Joe Perez. W—Gardiner. L—Sorenson.
Records: Jamestown College 26-12-1; Morningside College 31-15.
Sun sports writer Michael Savaloja can be reached at (701) 952-8461 or by email at mikes@jamestownsun.com
Tags: college sports, sports, jimmies, baseball
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