×

Dowling bats drown out Bobcats

Third-ranked Maroons rack up 23 hits, 22 runs in doubleheader sweep

T-R PHOTO BY ANNE VANCE • Marshalltown shortstop Dylan Eygabroad, left, tags out Dowling Catholic’s Robbie McCargar (5) on a play at second base during the fourth inning of Wednesday’s opening game at the MHS diamond. McCargar was thrown out of the game after making hard contact with Eygabroad, but the Class 4A No. 3 Maroons won both games of the CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader.

One part of the puzzle fell into place, but a couple more are still missing for the Bobcats.

The Marshalltown baseball team made just one error during Wednesday’s CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader against Class 4A No. 3 Dowling Catholic, but the Maroons tatooed MHS pitching for 23 hits and held the Bobcat bats scoreless in a divisional sweep.

Dowling (17-3, 9-1) started fast with a 10-0 victory that went the full seven innings, but the Maroons needed only five frames to finish off the nightcap, 12-0.

Marshalltown (8-11, 5-7) was limited to two hits in the opener and four more in the second game, suffering its third consecutive shutout defeat. The Bobcats take a six-game losing skid into tonight’s cross-CIML twinbill at Southeast Polk, encouraged by the facet of the game that came back to them in Wednesday’s doubleheader defeats.

“Despite the lopsided scores we actually played better fundamental defense tonight than we did on Monday night,” said MHS head coach Steve Hanson. “Our pitchers struggled to throw strikes and also struggled to get ahead on counts, which is a recipe for disaster against a talented team like Dowling.”

The Maroons entered the evening ranked seventh in 4A with 118 runs scored and 15th with a .311 team batting average. But the state’s fourth-best earned run average shined just as bright on this night, limiting the Bobcats to five singles and one double in two games. Marshalltown has scored a total of six runs in its current six-game losing skid.

“We still have to find some ways to generate runs,” said Hanson. “Throwing strikes and playing great defense won’t matter if we can’t score a few runs.”

Three Dowling pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout in the opener. Ben Probst (5-0) struck out three, walked one, and allowed only a third-inning single to Dylan Eygabroad and a fourth-inning double to Jordan Smiley.

Sam Irwin reached base in all three plate appearances, twice on errors and once with a walk, but was unable to advance beyond third base.

In the nightcap, Dowling’s Cole Coffin hit a three-run double in the top of the first and a two-run home run in the Maroons’ six-run third. Luke Yacinich and Cole Moulton teamed up on a four-hitter.

Smiley, the only Bobcat with a hit in both games, went 2-for-2 in the nightcap. Wyatt Himes and Nate Vance both added a single, while Tate Kuehner reached twice and advanced to third base both times before Marshalltown’s scoring chances were squelched.

The Bobcats head to Pleasant Hill tonight for two games before hosting North Polk in a single contest Friday night at 7 p.m.

“We have our hands full the rest of the week and will have to make improvements in offense, defense and pitching in order to have a chance,” said Hanson. “Our guys are still working hard, which gives us a chance. I’m sure they’ll be ready to go [Thursday].”

At Marshalltown

Game One

Dowling Catholic 10, Marshalltown 0

Dowling 200 123 2 — 10 9 3

MHS 000 000 0 — 0 2 0

Ben Probst, Carter Baumler (5), Geoff Meek (7) and Lyle Fini; Wade Canaday, Blake Trowbridge (3), Brian Trowbridge (6), Ryan Bohan (7), Lucas Duff (7) and Miguel Torrez, Matt Bohan (7). W–Probst (5-0). L–Canaday (2-1). 2B–DC: Colin Lacey, Fini, Sam Olson; MHS: Jordan Smiley. HR–DC: Connor Erps (1), Peyton Krugler (2). LOB–DC 8, MHS 5.

Game Two

Dowling Catholic 12, Marshalltown 0, 5 innings

Dowling 306 03 — 12 14 1

MHS 000 00 — 0 4 1

Luke Yacinich, Cole Mounton (5) and Will Hochberger; Noah DeVenney, Torrez (5) and Wyatt Himes. W–Yacinich (5-0). L–DeVenney (0-2). 2B–DC: Lacey, Fini, Cole Coffin, Noah Gyldenvand. HR–DC: Coffin (1), Gyldenvand (1). LOB–DC 6, MHS 5.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today