No. 12 NIACC baseball team splits pair in Tennessee

By The Globe Gazette staff

MILLINGTON, Tenn. — No. 12 NIACC split a pair of close games Friday at the 2017 Babe Howard JUCO Classic.

The Trojans defeated Lake Land Community College 3-1 in the opener and fell to Rend Lake College 7-6 in 10 innings in the second game.

NIACC's Brandon Williamson enjoyed seven solid innings on the mound to pick up the victory in Game 1 with four strikeouts and two walks while allowing three hits.

"He set the tone right from the get go," NIACC coach Travis Hergert said. He was very efficient and made quality pitches when he needed to."

Rend Lake scored six runs over the final three innings to rally for a win in Game 2. NIACC scored once in the 10th before Rend Lake scored twice in the bottom of the frame.

Aaron Kubal tripled, singled and drove in a run for the Trojans while Nate VanKan had a pair of RBIs. Michael Oh gave the Trojans a good start on the mound as he finished with five strikeouts while allowing one hit.

"We wasted a great start from Michael," Hergert said. "We didn't want to push him too much so we went to bullpen and the wheels fell off.

"We got the lead back in the tenth and unfortunately things didn't go our way."

NIACC (3-4) returns to action Saturday with a pair of games. The Trojans play Highland CC (Illinois) at 10 a.m. and face Lincoln Trail College at 2 p.m.

Notes: Connor Enochs has 71 career hits and 10 career doubles with 67 career runs scored ... Brandon Michie has 71 career hits with 23 career doubles and 54 career runs scored.