Rima reaches 600 wins as Kirkwood sweeps
Todd Rima
Rima has a 601-381 record in 19 years as a head college baseball coach, including a 236-134 mark in eight years at Kirkwood. He also served as the head coach at NIACC for 11 years.
Kirkwood has suspended all of its spring sports through April 3 due to precautions regarding the coronavirus.
Joel Vaske and Kyle Moeder hit home runs for the Eagles in the 11-1 victory in the opener, which ended after five innings due to the mercy rule. Vaske was 4-for-4 and drove in five runs.
Jaylen Patterson, Cade Moss, and Evan Paulus had two hits. Patterson collected a double and triple. Paulus scored three times. Josh Fitzgerald and Moss scored twice. Lorenz Elion and Moss had two RBIs.
Rian Yates (2-1) pitched four strong innings for the victory in Game 1. He allowed one run in four innings, with four strikeouts.
Vaske belted another home run and scored twice in the 4-3 victory in Game 2. Patterson had two RBIs.
Starting pitcher Luke Llewellyn was touched for one unearned run in 4 2/3 innings but left with no-decision. Clayton Nettleton picked up the victory in relief by striking out the side in the top of the seventh. Kirkwood won the game in the bottom of the seventh in walk-off style.
Kirkwood has won seven of its last eight games, raising its record to 7-5.
GAME 1
Kirkwood 044 03 - 11
Sussex County 100 00 - 1
Yates, Thompson (5) and Moss. W - Yates (2-1). 2B - Patterson, Moss. 3B - Patterson. HR - Vaske, Moeder. SF - Elion.
GAME 2
Sussex County 001 020 0 - 3
Kirkwood 000 201 1 - 4
Llewellyn, Fuller (5), Nigut (6), Nettleton (7) and Robles. W - Nettleton (1-0). 2B - Fitzgerald. HR - Vaske. SF - Patterson. SB - Elion.
