Heartland pounds Lincoln Land to sweep DH
Well, the power drought didn’t last long, as Heartland Community College swept a doubleheader today against Lincoln Land College at the Corn Crib in Normal. The Hawks move their record out to 39-4 overall and 25-3 in conference.
The Hawks were the visiting team on the scoreboard on Monday and they wasted no time at all in game one, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and capped by a nine-run fourth inning. They scored in every inning on their way to a run-rule shortened 17-4 victory.
Matt Lynch (8-0) pitched all five innings for the Hawks, allowing four earned runs on five hits, while walking only one.
Heartland hitters took advantage of wildness on the part of the Lincoln Land pitchers, drawing 11 walks to go with their 10 hits. Cody Bobbit and Andre Sopena both went 2 for 4 on the game, and both had two RBIs. Both Bobbitt and Mike Wieland hit home runs, with Bobbitt’s home run being a no-doubt monster to right center field. The biggest game, however, belonged to Dylan Johnson, who went 4 for 5, with three runs scored, two RBIs, and a double.
Game two had to bring a smile to acting head coach and hitting coach Ryan Knox’s lips as the Hawks posted three runs in the top of the first and three more in the second on their way to another five-inning run-rule victory. The final score was 12-2.
Matt Lambert picked up his sixth victory against no defeats, going the distance. Lambert struck out four, while walking none.
Once again, the Lincoln Land pitchers demonstrated an inability to get the ball over the plate, this time walking the 13 Hawk batters. Ryan Aper (Lincoln H.S. ’11) got the start for Lincoln Land and took the loss, his first of the season against three victories.
Heartland made the most of the walks, adding seven hits to push across the seven runs. Mike Failoni went 2 for 2 with three runs and three RBIs. Aaron Vogt went 2 for 4 with three runs scored and a home run. In a very unusual box score, Chad Klein had three RBIs while going 0 for 2.
The Hawks are back in action Wednesday, as they travel to Southeast Iowa Community College.
