One of the weekend doubleheaders was rained out, but the Riverland baseball team still got in a sweep of Central Lakes on Sunday at Seltz Field.
The bats were hot in the first game for the Riverland Blue Devils as they cruised to a 10-0 win six innings. The second game was a bit closer, until the Blue Devils broke it open with four runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 5-1 win to complete the sweep of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference, South Division games.
"Ben Schaben went all six innings on the mound in the first game with eight strikeouts and we gave him plenty of run support," Riverland coach Scott Koenigs said. "We didn't play that well in the second game, but the guys battled hard and pulled out the sweep."
Eric Sandstrom was the starting pitcher for the Blue Devils in the late game, but he struggled with his control. Sandstrom was pulled in the third inning and Brady Klingfus came on in relief. Klingfus went the rest of the way on the hill to get the win.
"We were behind when Brady came in the game and he did a great job in relief," Koenigs said. "He learned a lot last year and now, has become one of our main guys this season. Brady has a lot of confidence when he takes the mound and pitched extremely well to get this win."
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Riverland (24-9 overall, 6-2 MCAC South) travels to Worthington on Tuesday for a divisional doubleheader versus Minnesota West.
GAME ONE
RIVERLAND 10, CENTRAL LAKES 0
Cent. Lakes .......#000#000#—#0#3#3
Riverland .....#206#002#—#10#10#1
Riverland:Donte Bledsoe 1-for-2, HBP, 2 R; Michael Knutson 2-for-4, R; Matt Boswell 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI; Aaron Palmer 0-for-3, R; Joel Hollow 0-for-0, BB; Tyler Krekling 1-for-2, BB, R, 2 RBI; Braden Hunkins 1-for-3, HBP, R; Andrew Schunck 1-for-1, RBI; Chris May 0-for-1, BB, HBP; Jason Kezman 1-for-2, R, 4 RBI. WP:Ben Schaben 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 8 K.
GAME TWO
RIVERLAND 5, CENTRAL LAKES 1
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Cent. Lakes .......#100#000#0#—#1#8#1
Riverland .....#001#400#x#—#4#8#0
Riverland:Bledsoe 1-for-2, BB, SB, 2 RBI; Quinn Yocom 1-for-1, 2B; Knutson 2-for-3, 2 RBI; Boswell 1-for-4; Victor Claudio 0-for-1, BB, SB; Palmer 1-for-2, BB, R, RBI; Krekling 1-for-3, BB, 2 SB, R; Adams 0-for-1, HBP, R; Kezman 0-for-1, HBP, BB, R; May 0-for-1, HBP, R.
SP: Eric Sandstrom 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 3 K. WP:Brady Klingfus 4 2/3 IP, o R, 2 H, 0 BB, 7 K.
