Spartan Sidelines: Catch up on Spartan action

The Spartans had a busy weekend, competing in softball, baseball, golf and track and field events across three states.

Softball

MARSHALLTOWN — The Spartans moved to 4-4 in conference play after sweeping ICCAC opponent Marshalltown Community College (0-12, 0-8) Sunday on the road. Southwestern won 7-4 and 12-6.

The winless Tigers held a brief lead as they scored one run in both the first and second innings off six hits. The Spartans (15-12, 4-4) were patient, putting up a run in the second and two in the third to take over the lead.

Five Spartans scored in game one, led by Joslyn Policky with two runs. Brooklyn Hadl scored one run and had two RBIs.

In the fourth inning, the Spartans gave up two runs, giving the Tigers a one-run lead. Southwestern put Erika Kruse in the circle who was able to close the game with a shut out, striking out four batters and allowing only one hit.

“We left runners on. In the first game, we stranded 15 runners,” SWCC coach Danny Jensen said. “That was probably the most frustrating part of the day.”

While Kruse kept the Tigers’ offense at bay, the Spartans scored four more runs to take the victory.

In game two, the Spartans kept Kruse in the circle for the first five innings, and she was able to pick up a second victory on the day. Bailey Hosbach came in as relief for the save, shutting out the Tigers in the final two innings.

Kruse was also a star on offense for SWCC, hitting her fourth home run of the season, a three-run hit. Calie Allen had a solo home run, her sixth homer of the season.

The Spartans were much more in control of scoring in the second game, leading throughout. Nine runs combined between the fifth and sixth innings sealed the deal on the conference sweep.

“We picked up two conference wins,” Jensen said. “We’re one game behind Iowa Western, one win up on Southeastern.” Indian Hills remains undefeated in conference play, leading the ICCAC. Iowa Western sits at 5-3 while Southeastern is also .500 at 3-3.

SWCC plays a doubleheader at Iowa Central today before hosting North Central Missouri College Thursday for a doubleheader. They return to ICCAC action this weekend on the road with two games against No. 1 Indian Hills Saturday and another doubleheader Sunday against Southeastern.

Golf

DEKALB, Ill. – Competing against a predominantly NCAA Division I field, the Southwestern Spartans men’s golf team held their own with a fourth-place finish at the Kishwaukee Intercollegiate Saturday, hosted by Northern Illinois at Kishwaukee Country Club.

Southwestern posted rounds of 297 and 309 for a 36-hole team total of 606, finishing ahead of Aurora University’s “B” team, Highland Community College and Chicago State’s “B” team. Northern Illinois (553) and Illinois State (555) led the field by a wide margin, with Central Michigan (597) rounding out the top three.

Freddie Muggeridge led the way individually for the Spartans, finishing tied for 9th overall at +3 (71-74). Evan Powell opened strong with a collegiate-best round of 71 (+1), eventually finishing tied for 18th at +11. Elliot Lorentzon (+14), Alexander Cordrey (+18) and Justin Miller (+25) completed the Spartan lineup.

Coach Doug North praised the effort, noting the team’s competitiveness against strong opposition.

“We battled well, especially in that first round,” North said. “It is fun competing against some NCAA Division I schools and showing that we can do it. We went in with a goal of all 10 rounds in the 70s or better, we were close but fell short there.”

Cold temperatures and increasing winds created a tougher test in round two, but Southwestern showed resilience throughout the weekend.

This event marked the fourth tournament of the spring season for the Spartans. They return to action on April 16 at the Storm Spring Classic, hosted by Simpson College at Indianola Country Club.

Baseball

Indian Hills (13-6, 7-5) came to town Saturday, sweeping the Southwestern (7-24, 3-10) baseball team 11-4 and 9-1 in ICCAC play.

The Spartans came out with a strong first inning in game one, their best playing of the series, sending in three runs to take a 3-0 lead heading into the second inning.

The Warriors picked up two in the second, but another one by SWCC in the fourth had the Spartans leading 4-2. It went downhill from there as Indian Hills scored eight in the final three innings while shutting out the Spartans.

Four Spartans scored in game one — Alexander Arroyo, Jacob Angell, Brayden Mitchell and Wyatt Throckmorton. Jose Cherena pitched a majority of the game, striking out three batters and allowing five runs. Bullpen relief included Carter Smalley, Christian Wilkes and Ido Peled.

In game two, neither team scored in the first three innings, but in the fourth, the Warriors went off with six runs. The Spartans found their only run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning by Grant Allison who made it on base on a walk. SWCC had only five hits in game two.

The Spartans played Indian Hills again Monday where they lost 19-0. Today they play at Kirkwood Community College. Thursday they return home to host Iowa Central Community College in a tough conference matchup. Iowa Central sits at second in the ICCAC, with a 28-6 overall record, 12-2 in the conference.

Track and Field

ST. LOUIS — It was a brisk, rainy day Saturday as the Southwestern Track and Field team competed at the Billiken Alumni Invite in St. Louis.

Freshman Jacob Driskell of East Union had a second-place performance in the 5000-meter run, running 17:44.58. Freshman Cameron Swapsy also earned silver, running a 50.69 400m dash. He finished less than a second behind first place.

Freshman Brandon Briley of Creston competed in the 800m run where he ran a 2:06.04, placing ninth. Sophomore Stephen Ross competed in the 100m dash and 110m hurdles. In the run, he finished 11th in 12.31. In the hurdles, his time of 17.01 was good for fourth.

The Spartans return to action Friday at the Jim Duncan Invitational at Drake Stadium.