NIACC sweeps Iowa Lakes
ESTHERVILLE - The NIACC baseball team swept an ICCAC twinbill from Iowa Lakes on Friday.
NIACC (22-27 overall, 18-14 in the ICCAC) won the first game 10-0 and took the second game 8-3.
In the first game, NIACC's Jaiden Mollett tossed a complete-game 3-hit shutout. Mollett struck out 13 and did not walk a batter in seven innings of work.
It was the first complete game shutout for a NIACC pitcher since Connor Wietgrefe blanked Ellsworth 1-0 in second game of a doubleheader on April 27, 2022. The 13 strikeouts is the most in a game for a NIACC hurler since Thomas Gross struck out 12 in second game of a doubleheader againsst Marshalltown CC on March 12, 2022.
In the last 10 seasons, only two NIACC pitchers have struck out more than 13 batters in a single game. Collin Kramer struck out 18 against Southwestern in 2021 and Tim Black struck out 16 against Madison College at the 2013 NJCAA Division II World Series.
NIACC scored in five of its seven at-bats, including for runs in the sixth inning.
NIACC's Bennett McCollow was 2 for 3, including a double, with two RBIs and two runs scored. The Trojans' Alex Berreth drove in two runs and Will Couchman was 2 for 3.
In the second game, NIACC pounded out 13 hits to score its eight runs. Couchman and Eli Anderson both had three hits and McCollow had two hits. Brayden Hellum, Lincoln Berry, Couchman and Anderson all had doubles and Couchman had a triple.
NIACC's Ben Rosin improved his record to 5-2 with the win in the second game. Rosin allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk in five innings of work.
Heading into Saturday's regular season finale, the Trojans have won four straight contests, which matches their longest winning streak of the season. The Trojans also won four straight games with a win over Ellsworth and three straight wins over Marshalltown.
McCollow has 98 career hits and is two hits away from becoming the 27th member of the Trojans' 100-hit club. Rosin has 98 career strikeouts and is two strikeouts away from becoming the 12th NIACC pitcher with 100 career strikeouts.
The Trojans and Lakers (4-43, 1-31) wrap up their three-game series with a single game Saturday starting at noon.
NIACC TOP STRIKEOUT GAMES SINCE 2013
18 - Collin Kramer vs. Southwestern (2nd game DH) (4-11-21)
16 - Tim Black vs. Madison College (NJCAA Divison II World Series) (5-25-13)
13 - Dusty Harrill vs. Iowa Lakes (2nd game DH) (5-1-16)
13 - Derek Lieurance vs. Ellsworth (NJCAA Region XI tournament) (5-14-16)
13 - Brandon Williamson vs. Kirkwood (1st game DH) (4-17-18)
13 - Tom Skoro vs. Iowa Lakes (2nd game DH) (4-29-18)
13 - Thomas Gross vs. Iowa Lakes (1st game DH) (4-21-21)
13 - Jaiden Mollett vs. Iowa Lakes (1st game DH) (5-5-23)
