NIACC baseball team splits pair at Southeastern
By The Globe Gazette staff
WEST BURLINGTON — The NIACC baseball team split an ICCAC doubleheader against Southeastern on Tuesday.
The No. 13 (NJCAA Division II) Trojans (14-8, 1-3) took the opener 15-7 behind six extra-base hits before Southeastern (15-9, 3-1) pounded out 16 hits in a 15-5 victory in six innings in the nightcap.
"It's still early but we found out a lot of things we need to work on," NIACC coach Travis Hergert said.
In the opener, NIACC received home runs from Malique Ziegler, Spencer Halloran and Blake Whitecotton while Halloran, Fischer Durbala and Brandon Michie had doubles for the Trojans. Halloran finished with four RBIs while Durbala and Whitecotton – the bottom two batters in NIACC's lineup – each had two RBIs.
"We needed him," Hergert said of Halloran. "He got off to a great start with a 2-run home run and then added a 2-run double."
Hergert was also pleased with Derek Liurance and Danny Beizer on the mound in the opener as they combined for seven strikeouts.
"I thought Derek pitched really well and Danny Beizer came in and gave us a solid outing in relief."
NIACC added three more home runs in the nightcap from Troy Bullingham, Michie and Austin LaDoux while Whitecotton added a double to lead the Trojans offensively.
However, NIACC committed four errors defensively and the No. 2, 3 and 4 hitters in Southeastern's lineup combined for nine hits and five RBIs.
"We kept doing things offensively but we made too many mistakes defensively," Hergert said. "We also didn't put away guys with two strikes."
NIACC 15, SOUTHEASTERN 7
NIACC 000 252 6 – 15 10 0
Southeastern 000 061 0 – 7 10 4
Derek Lieurance (4K, 4BB, 1HBP), Danny Beizer (5) (3K, 2BB) and Blake Whitecotton. W – Lieurance. HR – Malique Ziegler (N), Spencer Halloran (N), Whitecotton. 2B – Halloran, Fischer Durbala (N), Brandon Michie (N). Multiple hits – Ziegler 2, Halloran 2, Durbala 2. Multiple RBIs – Halloran 4, Durbala 2, Whitecotton 2.
SOUTHEASTERN 15, NIACC 5 (6)
NIACC 110 030 – 5 9 4
Southeastern 505 041 – 15 16 1
Matt Hudson (1K, 3BB, 1HBP), Ty Yewman (2) (1K, 0BB), Dusty Harrill (3) (0K, 0BB), Antonio Rivera (4) (1K, 2BB and Whitecotton. L– Hudson. HR – Troy Bullingham (N), Michie, Austin LaDoux. 2B – Whitecotton. Multiple hits – Robbie Glendinning (N) 2, Bullingham 2. Multiple RBIs – Bullingham 2.
