The DCTC Blue Knights took care of business in Austin on April 10, sweeping a doubleheader (6-1, 11-10) from Riverland on its home field.
In the first game, Ross Metzger pitched a complete game two-hitter, striking out 11 and walking only four. With the score 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning, Jonah Lansing hit a two-run home run to make the score 4-1, followed in the fifth by a double by John Poferl, who batted in another run to make it 5-1. Lansing added another RBI in the sixth to secure the 6-1 victory.
“Ross Metzger was the big factor in the game,” said an elated Coach Kerry Lurken. “Ross really shut down the Riverland bats on the road in Austin.”
The second game was a nail-biter all seven innings. With Riverland opening up a 5-0 lead in the first, the Blue Knights didn’t give in, battling back to eventually win 11-10.
“We hit the ball very well, having 11 hits at 34 at-bats with a team batting average of .324 for the game,” Lurken noted. “Nick Lopez was 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Ross Metzger was 3 for 4 and had 3 RBIs.”
The biggest story of the game was in the seventh inning. Down 9-6 with one out, DCTC showed its strength. After two batters reached base on walks, and a Brian Jacobson single loaded the bases, Kyle Quinn knocked a triple to clear the bases and tie the game.
After a Riverland error, two more Blue Knights crossed the plate to go ahead 11-9 going into the bottom of the seventh. Then, with DCTC one win away from a win, Riverland scored on two doubles to make the score 11-10. Metzger, winner of the first game, came in to close out the victory. Alex Miller got the win.
In other games just prior to these two impressive wins, DCTC did not fare as well, losing a pair to Bethany Lutheran (16-0, 16-1) on April 7, and two to Rochester Community and Technical College (10-0, 9-0) on April 9.
