OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 18-ranked Johnson County baseball team ran its record to 8-2 on the season after sweeping a four-game series against Southwestern over the weekend.  The Cavaliers recorded 14-4 and 10-0 wins in a doubleheader on February 18 and capped the sweep with wins of 5-3 and 8-4 on February 19.

In the opener, Johnson County collected 12 hits in the game, including seven home runs.

Freshman outfielder Nicholas Sall drove in five runs with a grand slam in the third and solo shot in the fifth inning.  Sophomore outfielder Cooper Combs hit a solo home run in the first inning. Freshman outfielder Brayden Luikart hit a solo homer in the fourth. Freshman outfielder Jesse Tisdell, sophomore second baseman Easton Elliot and sophomore catcher Shea McGahan went yard in the sixth inning. Elliot also had a double and triple in the game, and McGhan scored three times and Luikart, Combs and Sall crossed the plate twice. 

In the second game, the Cavaliers got solid performances from both the offense and pitching staff. On the hill, sophomore right-hander Gabe Nutter had a dominating outing against allowing just one hit and no runs while strikeout out 10 batters in his five innings on the bump, picking up his first victor of the season. Freshman right-hander Caleb Anderson closed out the game allowing a hit and no runs over last two innings. 

Sophomore first baseman Ryan Callahan led JCCC went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple and drove in four runs. The Cavaliers totaled 11 hits in the game, and along with Callahan Johnson County got multiple hits from freshman third baseman Jason Lazo and freshman designated hitter Dagen Brewer. 

In the third game of the series McGahan carried the big stick, hitting a double and a two-run home run. Callahan also drove in a run along with sophomore third baseman Jeremy Radar. 

Sophomore right-hander Cole Koonze improved to 2-0 on the season, allowing three runs off four hits and six strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Sophomore left-hander Ty Blecha was perfect the final 1.2 innings to pick up his first save. 

The final games the Cavaliers were cruising leading 8-0 entering the top of the night, but Southwestern made it interesting plating four runs. 

Sall drove in two runs with a single, and freshman shortstop Dylan Hufft, Luikart, freshman catcher Brewer, freshman catcher Kyle Hepburn and freshman third baseman Jordan Black each had one RBI. 

Johnson County will start another four-game series on Saturday, February 25 when they host North Iowa Area. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday.