OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The 15th-ranked Johnson County Community College baseball team improved to 10-2 on the season after a taking three of four games against Metropolitan Community College Feb. 25-26.
The four-game series opened at MCC on Monday with the Cavaliers racing to an 11-1 victory in the first game, but the Wolves evened the series with a 4-3 victory in game two. The series shifted to JCCC on Tuesday and the Cavaliers posted wins of 4-2 and 5-2 to win the series.
In the opening game, sophomore third baseman Even Bergman provided the big bat, going 2-for-2 with a triple and five runs driven in. Sophomore right fielder Anthony Amicangelo drove in two runs and sophomore All-American first baseman Malik Williams, sophomore catcher Ried Briney and freshman designated hitter Vince Donato each drove in a single run.
Sophomore right-hander Zachary Ebert improved to 3-0 on the season with a complete game victory. He allowed one run off two hits and struck out eight of the 15 batters he faced.
In the second game, Johnson County led 3-2 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, but MCC scored a run to tie and then got a run in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 walk off victory.
Freshman third baseman Jaxon Wall had three of the Cavaliers seven hits, including a triple, and drove in a run. Bergman and Amicangelo each ripped a double and drove in a run.
Sophomore right-hander Dylan Bierman earned the no-decision after pitching the first four innings. He allowed two runs off two hits with six strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Matt Olson logged the final three innings and took the loss. He allowed two runs off five hits and struck out three.
In game three, freshman center fielder Landen Wood has two hits and scored twice, and Williams drove in two to power the Cavaliers to a 4-2 win.
Freshman right-hander Trey Ziegenbein improved to 3-0 with a dominating performance over six innings. He allowed two run off two hits and struck out 13 of the 20 batters he faced. Freshman right-hander Paul Rector closed out the game with two strikeouts in the seventh to earn his first save of the campaign.
Johnson County closed out the series with a 5-2 win in game four. The Cavaliers got another masterful pitching performance from sophomore right-hander Sloan Thomsen. The Lawrence native allowed two runs off three hits and struck out 11 batters to earn a complete game victory and improve to 3-0 on the season.
Sophomore left fielder Jacob Owens belted a solo home run, and Amicangelo, sophomore shortstop Blake Shannon and freshman catcher Noah Cook each drove in a run.
The Cavaliers next home games are against Minnesota West Community College in a four-game series beginning Thursday, March 7, and concluding on Friday, March 8.