Trojans push win streak to 4 games
- Trojans pick up back-to-back shutouts
- Fort homers for Trojans against North Central Missouri
- Becker drives in 4 against MSU-West Plains
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - The NIACC baseball team picked up a pair of shutouts on Monday against North Central Missouri College and Missouri State University-West Plains.
NIACC, which has won four straight games, blanked North Central Missouri College 2-0 and shut out MSU-West Plains 10-0 in five innings.
The two consecutive shutouts were the first two back-to-back shutouts for the Trojans since March of 2019. In the 2019 season, the Trojans shut out Iowa Western 4-0 in the second game of a doubleheader and then blanked Northeast CC 4-0 in the first game of a twinbill.
In the win over North Central Missouri College, freshman right-hander Caden Watson (1-0) tossed five innings only allowing one hit with two strikeouts and one walk to pick up his first collegiate victory. Sophomore right-hander John Skoro, who struck out three and did not walk a batter, held the Pirates scoreless and hitless for two innings to collect the save.
NIACC scored single runs in the second and fourth innings.
Sophomore Payton Fort was 2 for 2, including a home run, and scored both of the Trojans' runs. It was Fort's second home run of the season and sixth of his career.
Also for the Trojans, freshman Minchan Kim was 2 for 2 for the Trojans.
In the 10-run win over MSU-West Plains, freshman right-hander Ethan Loffer (1-1) allowed no runs and one hit in four innings of work to gain his first collegiate victory. Loffer struck out two and walked one.
Carson Bantz, a freshman right-hander, relieved Loffer in the fifth inning. Bantz, who struck out one, set the Grizzlies down in order as the Trojans won for the fourth straight time after dropping their first four contests.
NIACC pounded out 11 hits to score its 10 runs. Cody Haynes led the Trojans' hit parade by going 3 for 3 and scoring four runs.
NIACC's Lincoln Becker was 2 for 4, including his second home run of the season, with four RBIs. The Trojans' Jack McDonough was 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
NIACC returns to action this weekend at the Vincennes Invitational in Vincennes, Ind. The Trojans face No. 15 Kellogg CC (4-3) at 5 p.m. on Friday.
On Saturday, the Trojans face Vincennes University (2-3) at 10 a.m. and Lincoln Trail College (5-7) at 3 p.m.
