NIACC sweeps Central College JV
MASON CITY - The NIACC baseball team played long ball on Thursday.
NIACC hit a total of nine home runs in its non-conference doubleheader sweep of the Central College junior varsity at Roosevelt Field.
The Trojans hit six home runs in the first game en route to a 18-0 five-inning victory. In the second game, the Trojans hit three home runs and topped the Dutch 12-2 in six innings.
Sophomore Fox Leum led the NIACC offense on Thursday hitting three home runs and driving in six runs the twinbill sweep.
Leum was 2 for 3 with two home runs and five RBIs in the opener. The first baseman was 2 for 4, including a solo home run in the second game.
Leum has 19 home runs this season, which ranks second in NJCAA Division II. Western Oklahoma State's Dan Pruitt, who has commited to Dallas Baptist University, leads the nation with 20 home runs.
Leum's 19 home runs ranks third on NIACC's career home run list. Robbie Glendinning is the single-season leader with 25 in 2016 and Malique Ziegler ranks second with 22 home runs, also in 2016.
Leum's 28 career home runs ranks third on the school's all-time career list. He trails Glendinning, who hit 33 in 2015-16, and Austin LaDoux, who hit 29 in 2015-16.
NIACC ranks third in NJCAA Division II with 69 home runs. Western Oklahoma State leads the nation with 96 and Pearl River CC (Mississippi) ranks second with 71.
In Thursday's first game, Gabe Eckstaine and Gabe Denton also both hit two home runs for the Trojans. NIACC scored five runs in the first inning, six runs in the second frame and pushed across seven runs in the third inning.
Chase Rath (2-1) picked up the win in the opener for the Trojans. He tossed a complete-game one hit shutout with two walks and one strikeout.
In the second game, NIACC recived home runs from Leum, Dylan Criquet-Danielson and Liam Taylor.
Tyson Tucker gained the win for the Trojans. He pitched 3 1/3 innings allowing one run on no hits with three strikeouts and five walks.
NIACC (26-24 overall, 11-13 in the ICCAC) returns to action Friday and Saturday in its final four-game ICCAC series of the season. Friday's twinbill is at Iowa Falls and Saturday's doubheleader is at Roosevelt Field.
