RODRIGUEZ AND WARD LEAD HAWKS TO SWEEP OF NO. 6 BLACKHAWKS

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – The Northeast Community College baseball team traveled to West Burlington, Iowa for a battle with defending Region 11 Champion No. 6 Southeastern Community College. The Hawks swept the day behind incredible starting pitching by final scores of 4-1 and 5-1.

Northeast (17-10, 4-0 ICCAC) gave the ball to Gabe Rodriguez (Thornton, Colo.) in Game 1 and the sophomore did his part as he tossed all seven innings and allowed six hits, one earned run and recorded five strike outs. Cade Grevengoed (West Des Moines, Iowa) tallied two RBIs in the contest as the Hawks grabbed their first victory over a ranked squad this season.

Oliver Ward (Mill Creek, Wash.) climbed the hill as the starter for Northeast in Game 2 and he repeated the dominance on the mound from Game 1 as the sophomore pitched seven innings, allowed three hits, struck out eight Blackhawks batters and did not surrender a single earned run. Kale Jensen (Central City, Neb.), Derek Woolwine (Boulder, Colo.), Jack Borgmann (Norfolk, Neb.) and Grayson Headrick (Littleton, Colo.) all collected RBIs in the showdown at the plate. Today's sweep for the Hawks marked their sixth and seventh consecutive victories with another matchup on deck tomorrow.

STAT SHEET GAME 1:

Cade Grevengoed (West Des Moines, Iowa): 2-4, HR, R, RBI

Kale Jensen (Central City, Neb.): 2-2, R, 2 BB

Grayson Headrick (Littleton, Colo.): 1-3, RBI

STAT SHEET GAME 2:

Grayson Headrick (Littleton, Colo.): 2-4, R, RBI

Brice Wallar (Papillion, Wash.): 1-3, 2B, 2 R, BB

Oliver Ward (Mill Creek, Wash.): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 8 K

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Baseball Coach Marcus Clapp on the performances from Gabe Rodriguez and Oliver Ward:

"Both Gabe and Oliver were really good," Clapp said. "They mixed their pitches well and kept them off balance. Good to see and happy for them! We played two good games in all phases."

Clapp on what it means to sweep the No. 6 team in the nation today:

"I think it shows the guys we can compete with anyone when we play Northeast Baseball," Clapp said. "We need to finish the weekend tomorrow."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will complete their series with No. 6 Southeastern Community College at 1 p.m. tomorrow in West Burlington, Iowa.

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