Monday April 15th Local Sports
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jose Berrios pitched into the seventh inning for his first win since opening day, Trevor Hildenberger struck out two with the bases loaded for his first save and the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 to complete a two-game sweep. C.J. Cron homered and drove in three, and Eddie Rosario was a triple short of the cycle for the Twins, who have won three of four. Blake Parker loaded the bases with one out in the ninth before Hildenberger got John Hicks and Grayson Greiner swinging.
MASON CITY — The 7th-ranked NIACC softball team picked up a pair of sweeps over the weekend in Iowa Community College Athletic Conference play. On Saturday in Creston against Southwestern, Kristen Peka fired a six-inning perfect game, striking out 11 in a 15-0 win. Kaci Sherwood had a two-run homer to lead the Lady Trojans. In game two, Kylie Sherwood picked up the win in the circle in an 11-3 five-inning decision. Kaci Sherwood was 3-for-4. On Sunday, NIACC had nine home runs as they swept Iowa Lakes 13-3 in six innings and 9-1 in five innings. Peka and Kaci Sherwood each had two homers, with Peka socking a walk-off grand slam. Morgan Kelly had two homers while Hannah Faktor had a walk-off two-run round tripper. NIACC is now 20-8 overall and 12-2 in the conference and will host Indian Hills on Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader.
MASON CITY – The NIACC baseball team swept an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader from 4th-ranked Southeastern on Sunday at Roosevelt Field.
NIACC won the first game 10-1 and took the nightcap 6-2.
In the first game, Michael Oh picked up the complete-game win for the Trojans. He allowed one run on eight hits with three strikeouts.
NIACC broke the game open by scoring eight runs on six hits in the sixth inning. Shane Kelleher provided the big blast of the frame with a three-run home run.
NIACC also received solo home runs from Fox Leum in the second inning and Will Sturek in the fourth inning.
In the second game, NIACC rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring five runs in the seventh inning, including a three-run home run from Anthony Catalano and a solo home run from Sturek.
The Trojans added an insurance run in their half of the eighth inning.
Sophomore reliever Jared Large gained the win for the Trojans. Large relieved starter Patrick Pridgen with one out in the seventh inning in his first appearance of the season.
NIACC and Southeastern wrap up their four-game series in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Monday.
FORT DODGE – The NIACC men’s golf team is in third place after the first day Sunday at the Iowa Central Invitational at the Fort Dodge Country Club.
NIACC shot a first-day 302. Mount Mercy is the first-day leader with a 292.
Iowa Lakes is in second with a 300 and DMACC and Southwestern are tied for fourth with a pair of 304s.
NIACC was led by sophomore Ben Boerjan with a 69, which tied his career best round. Boerjan also shot a 69 at the Grand View September Shootout on Sept. 17, 2018.
Also for the Trojans, Jackson Hamlin shot a 76, Zach Martin shot a 77, Austin Eckenrod shot an 80 and John Patterson shot an 88.
NIACC’s previous best team score this spring was a 312 at the Kirkwood Eagle Spring Classic on March 24.
The final round of the Iowa Central Invitational is set for Monday.
FORT DODGE – The NIACC women’s golf team is in second place after the first day at the Iowa Central Invitational on Sunday at the Fort Dodge Country Club.
The Lady Trojans shot an opening-day of round of 364. Iowa Lakes is the first day leader with a 345 and Southwestern is in third with a 371.
Sophomore Ashley Alert led the Lady Trojans with a 40-46 – 86.
Also, Ashley Alert shot a 44-46 – 90, Morgan Luecht shot a 39-54 – 93 and Jordyn Barragy shot a 44-51 – 95.
IOWA CITY — Iowa looks to boost its run game even more and experience at running back should help. Mekhi Sargent, Toren Young and Ivory Kelly-Martin all saw significant playing time a year ago for an offense that averaged 148 yards on the ground.
That’s Iowa running backs coach Derrick Foster who says the Hawkeyes want to boost their average of four yards per carry last year.
Foster expects more big plays from the running backs and that will help boost the average.
Iowa continues spring drills until April 26th.
AMES — A year ago Mike Rose was getting ready for high school prom. This spring the Ohio native is preparing for his second season as Iowa State’s starting middle linebacker after starting all 13 games a year ago. Rose finished fourth on the team in tackles and was named a Freshman All-American.
He knows the expectations for his sophomore season will be off the charts.
Rose says with a year under his belt he needs to become more of a leader on defense.
Iowa State wraps up spring practice later this week