By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Clarion, IA – The Humboldt Wildcats baseball team closed out North Central Conference play in dominant fashion, sweeping Clarion-Goldfield-Dows with a 16-4 win in seven innings and a 10-0 shutout in five innings.
Game one saw Humboldt break things open early and often, scoring in five different innings. The Wildcats used a six-run second inning and a seven-run seventh to pull away from the Cowboys.
Jackson Kirkoff provided one of the biggest highlights of the night, launching his first career home run, a two-run shot in the second inning. Valley Davis powered the lineup as well, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Chase Hansen, Chase Flaherty, and Griffin Groat all contributed key RBI production in the win.
On the mound, Davis was equally impressive, going the distance with a complete-game effort. He allowed four runs on five hits, two walks, struck out four, and earned the win as Humboldt controlled the game from start to finish.
Game two brought more of the same for the Wildcats, who completed the sweep with a 10-0 shutout in five innings. Humboldt pitching held Clarion-Goldfield-Dows to just three hits, while the offense continued to roll.
Davis added to his big night with his team-leading seventh home run of the season, and Chase Flaherty delivered one of the most exciting plays of the game, an inside-the-park two-run homer in the first inning.
Humboldt Head Coach Jason Thurm praised the complete team effort after the sweep.
“All facets of the game tonight, we got great pitching both ends of that doubleheader, and the boys definitely brought the bats, and man, we put some really good swings on some balls out here, and huge field, but we were making it look small at times.”
With the sweep, Humboldt improves to 17-8 (10-4 NCC) securing third place in the conference. The Wildcats now turn their attention to non-conference play at Estherville-Lincoln Central Tuesday night, with first pitch set for 7:30 p.m.