TIMES-REPUBLICAN

AMES — The Marshalltown baseball team made 11 errors and gave up 10 unearned runs in a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Ames on Monday night in Iowa Alliance Conference play.

The Bobcats (6-20, 1-9) put a stront foot forward with nine runs in their first at-bat of the evening, but Ames fought all the way back to win in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning, 14-13.

The Little Cyclones (11-15, 6-4) rode the momentum into Game 2, took a 4-0 lead and used a 10-run explosion to break a 4-all tie for a 14-4, five-inning victory.

In the opening game, Marshalltown racked up 13 hits for its first double-digit output since the sixth game of the season — a win over Waterloo East. The Bobcats sent 15 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and scored nine of them, highlighted by an RBI single for Madden Martin, a two-run double for Quinn McLeod and a two-run hit for Treyton Gilliland.

Ames fought back with two runs in the first and four in the second to get within 9-6, but MHS answered with a three-spot in the third. Aiden Holmgren hit a leadoff single, Garrett Thede’s sacrifice bunt was misplayed, and Jalen Logsdon’s bunt single plated Thede. Logsdon later scored on a double-steal for a 12-6 lead, but the Bobcats got just one run the rest of the way.

Thede led off the fifth with a single up the middle and scored two outs later on a bases-loaded single by Luke Stalzer. McLeod was thrown out at the plate, preventing the Bobcats from some much-needed insurance.

Ames scored five times in the bottom of the sixth to tie and got the game-winning run on a walk, an error and walk-off single for Austin Naber in the seventh.

Holmgren finished 2-for-4 with three runs, Logsdon was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, and McLeod was 2-for-5 with a double, a run and three RBIs. Thede singled and scored three times as MHS accumulated 13 hits in a losing cause.

Holmgren pitched 5 1/3 innings with no decision, allowing 10 runs — five earned — on seven hits and two walks while striking out four. Stalzer gave up three-straight singles before Logsdon got the last two outs of the sixth, but he was unable to get an out in the seventh and took the loss.

Kirkwood Community College recruit Jackson Kepley struck out two in the seventh for the win and also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a two-run double, a two-run homer and five RBIs.

In the second game, Ames led 4-0 before the Bobcats tied it up a four-run third, sparked by a three-run, bases-loaded double by Stalzer.

The Little Cyclones scored 10 times in the home half of the third, however, getting eight runs — three earned — against Thede and two more unearned runs against Larrs Schoenfelder. The Bobcats made five errors in the disastrous inning.

Martin was 3-for-3 with a run and Stalzer finished 2-for-2 to lead the MHS offense. Thede and Logsdon both singled and scored, while McLeod drove in a run and scored as well.

Elliott Hites struck out 11 in the five-inning complete-game performance for Ames.

“We had a great start offensively in Game 1,” said MHS head coach Colton Hanke. “The guys came out and put the ball in play. Ames chipped away and we didn’t execute the simple things to close it out.

“The guys competed throughout Game 1, fought back in Game 2 and that’s all we ask for from them.”

Ames ran its series streak to 15 games against the Bobcats, winning for the 25th time in their last 26 meetings.