A 3-6 performance by Austin White and strong pitching performances from starters Greg Milhorn and Kyle Neely helped the Eagles jump to a 2-1 record during their opening weekend of play.
?We didn?t hit the ball as well as I would have liked this weekend,? Eagle head coach Josh Stewart said. ?We were able to pick up a pair of wins, though, and that is what matters.?
Wesley Hoover and Matt Durst scored the only runs the Eagles needed in the opening game of the season at home against Cedar Valley Friday as NTCC picked up a 2-0 victory.† Milhorn picked up the win for the Eagles, throwing a complete-game shutout while recording six strikeouts and giving up only two hits.
The only runs of the contest came in the bottom of the sixth inning as Hoover led off with a walk and Cameron O?Brien reached on an error. Durst reached on a fielder?s choice as Hoover scored and Durst later scored on a single by Julian Service.† A bases-loaded walk brought in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh for the Eagles in game two against the Rebels as NTCC earned a 2-1 victory.† With the score tied at one heading into the bottom of the seventh, Service led off with a walk before D.J. Roberts and Jason Freeman were hit by pitches to load the bases. Hayden Martin then drew the game-winning walk as Service crossed the plate to give the Eagles a 2-1 victory.
?It?s not exactly the way you would want to win a game, but we will take it,? Stewart said. ?Our pitchers did do a good job for us today, though.?
Kyle Neely was forced to take a no-decision despite a good outing on the mound for the Eagles as he allowed only one run on six hits while striking out eight in six and a third innings of work. Hunter Whitlock picked up the win after retiring the only two batters he faced in the contest.
Big innings by visiting Hill College in the fourth and fifth innings were too much for the Eagles to overcome Saturday as NTCC fell, 11-2.† With the score tied at one heading into the fifth, Hill scored four in the fifth and three in the sixth to pull away for the win. Hoover and White had good days at the plate for the Eagles, combining to go 4-7, but it was not enough to earn NTCC the win.† James Marshall took the loss for the Eagles, giving up four runs on five hits in one-third inning of work.
The Eagles will be back in action this weekend as they host Pratt College for a three-game series Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All three games start at 3 p.m.
