AMES — The Marshalltown baseball team found a silver lining to fend off all that gray that started the day.
Ames bombarded the Bobcats in the opening game of Monday’s Iowa Alliance Conference doubleheader, winning 18-0 in three innings to set the stage for a sweep.
The Little Cyclones (5-7, 4-0) claimed the second game 13-3 in six innings as Marshalltown (3-4, 0-2) showed signs of life after a listless beginning to the Alliance North Division schedule.
“In game one, we looked the same as last week,” said MHS head coach Colton Hanke. “We dug ourselves into a big hole early and couldn’t climb out of it.
“In game two, we made progress as we were able to get some of our guys on base, but not enough. Hopefully the momentum we gained in game two continues into tomorrow’s practice.”
Ames scored 13 times in its first at-bat of the night, sending 16 batters to the plate. The Little Cyclones chased freshman pitcher Aiden Holmgren from the mound only to greet sophomore Treyton Gilliland with a grand slam.
Ames had 12 hits and benefited from seven total walks in the three-inning opener, hitting four doubles, a triple and two home runs in the contest.
Erik Anderson allowed two hits while striking out nine on the mound for the Little Cyclones.
Holmgren and Tayven Dutton had the Bobcats’ singles in the opening defeat.
Marshalltown fell behind 10-0 in the second game before scoring its first runs of the day, putting up three in the top of the fourth. JJ Schoenfelder reached with a one-out single and Larrs Schoenfelder drove him home with a double. Tayven Dutton walked and an error plated courtesy runner Cooper McLeod run before Holmgren’s sacrifice fly drove in Dutton.
Sam Greazel and Garrett Thede added singles as the Bobcats finished with just four hits in the loss.
Greazel took the loss on the mound, allowing five runs — three earned — on four hits and two walks while striking out one. Luke Stalzer, Larrs Schoenfelder and Duton each took a turn on the bump before Ames ended the game by the mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth.
The Little Cyclones totaled 12 hits, including three doubles and five triples, and Charles Tucker struck out eight over five innings for the win.
Marshalltown returns home to entertain Fort Dodge for a divisional doubleheader on Wednesday and Des Moines Roosevelt for two games on Thursday.