Hornets Win Seventeenth Straight
The Nashville Hornets are on a roll. The Hornets wrapped up their 17th consecutive win as they defeated Breese Central and Teutopolis in a double header on Saturday and DuQuoin on Monday. The Hornets have not lost, since losing to Rockford Lutheran in their first two games of the season. The Hornets record currently stands at 16-2.
The Hornets continued their strong pitching performance on the season, as they defeated Teutopolis 2-0 in their first game of the day on Saturday. Ryan Brink was brilliant on the mound pitching all seven innings for Nashville, giving up just four hits in the ball game while striking out four batters. Both teams struggled to get runs across the plate in the game, as the game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. The Hornets were finally able to get on the scoreboard, as two runs crossed the plate. Brink came out and shut the door in the seventh to give the Hornets the win.
The Hornets were led at the plate by Brink, who finished with a team-high two hits to go along with an RBI. Jaris Dalman and Trevor Meier had the lone other hits in the ball game. Cody Bauza reached base via a walk for Nashville in the win, and Nick Krummrich finished with a run scored. Brady Bultman had the other RBI to go along with a walk in the game for the Hornets.
The Hornets needed extra innings to win their next game, as they needed nine innings to edge Breese Central. The Hornets again got a phenomenal performance on the mound from Austin Anderson, who started the game and pitched the first seven innings, before Brady Bultman came in to shut the door, pitching the final two. The Hornets got the scoring started off with two runs in the third. The lead was short-lived as Central came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. The score would stay tied at two until the top of the ninth, when three runs crossed the plate for Nashville. The Cougars could not make a comeback in the ninth, and the Hornets took the game 5-2.
Anderson went seven strong innings on the mound giving up just two earned runs on hits while striking out six. Bultman got the win on the mound pitching the final two innings in relief giving up just one hit, striking out one batter. The Hornets finished with 12 hits on the day, led by Dalman who reached base five times on two hits to go along with three walks, and a RBI and two runs scored. Brink finished with two hits, a run, and a RBI in the win. Bultman finished with three hits, one walk and a RBI for the Hornets, and Hayden Heggemeier finsihed with two hits in the game. Brogan Kemp finished with a single and a RBI for Nashville, while Krummrich scored his 19th run of the season.
The Hornets got down early, but didn't panic in their conference matchup against DuQuoin on Monday. The Indians broke through for a run in the first, but Kemp was able to shut them down for the rest of the game as the Hornets won 6-1. Kemp pitched all seven innings on the mound, giving up just one earned run, while striking out eight. Kemp did not walk any batters in the game. The Hornets broke through for two in the third inning as Dalman connected on his first home run of the season, to give Nashville a 2-1 lead. In the fourth, Nashville extended their lead, as Dalman got another two RBIs on a double. Anderson then connected on his first home run of the season. That was all Kemp needed as he shut down the DuQuoin offense despite the leadoff runner getting on throughout the game.
After the game coach Chad Malawy praised his team for not giving up. “I thought we came out a little bit flat, but we did rebound well, and leave it to Cody Bauza to have another good at bat to get us going in that inning, and then Jaris Dalman our senior with huge swing to put us on top. I think then we were able to get refocused, and expand our lead and get another conference win.”
At the plate, Dalman paced the offense going 2-3 with a run scored, a home run, and 4 RBIs. Bauza also had two hits in the ball game, to go along with two walks, and an RBI. Heggemeier notched a good day at the dish going 2-4 with a run scored. Anderson had the lone other RBI for Nashville, with his fourth inning home run. Brink had the lone other hit for Nashville to go along with a steal. Kash scored one run in the game, while Krummrich scored two.
Brogan Kemp delivers a pitch in the Hornets 6-1 win over the DuQuoin Indians. It was Kemp’s fifth win of the season. Kemp pitched all seven innings giving up just one run, on seven hits, while striking out eight.
