Eagles Go 3-1 in Sauget Series, Explode for 49 Runs
Sauget, IL- The #18 Kirkwood Eagles Baseball team traveled to Sauget, IL this past weekend for a 4-game slate, going 3-1 against Lincoln Land, Southwestern Illinois College, and McHenry County. The Eagles showcased explosive offense, timely hitting, and strong bullpen work, outscoring opponents 63-19 in their three wins.
Game 1 – Kirkwood 14, Lincoln Land 4
Kirkwood wasted no time setting the tone, erupting for 11 runs in the second inning on their way to a 14-4 victory over Lincoln Land.
Blake Lundholm led the charge, going 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, and three RBIs. Jax Theeler homered and drove in a run while scoring three times. Ty Andrews delivered a huge performance with two home runs and three RBIs, and Tyne Weeden added a long ball of his own. Alex Altmann chipped in two RBIs, while Wrigley Matthys reached base four times and drove in a run.
On the mound, Colin Homan earned the win, tossing 3.0 innings and striking out four. Tate Proskovec and Carson Costello combined to finish off the five-inning victory as the Eagles pounded out 11 hits and drew nine walks.
Game 2 – Southwestern Illinois College 4, Kirkwood 1
The Eagles dropped their only contest of the weekend in a 4-1 loss to Southwestern Illinois.
Wrigley Matthys continued his strong weekend at the plate, going 3-for-4. Brady Blake added a double, and Cam Templeton scored Kirkwood's lone run while collecting a hit and a walk.
Kye Smith took the loss despite striking out six over 3.0 innings, allowing just one earned run. Jackson Niederwerder provided solid relief with four strikeouts across 3.0 innings. Kirkwood pitching combined for 10 strikeouts, but the offense was held to one run despite six hits.
Game 3 – Kirkwood 19, McHenry County 9
The bats came alive again Saturday as the Eagles rolled past McHenry County 19-9 in the first of back-to-back matchups.
Jax Theeler powered the lineup, going 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. Cam Templeton drove in four runs, including a triple, while Blake Lundholm scored three times and added two RBIs. Brady Blake had two hits and an RBI, and Ty Andrews contributed two hits and two RBIs.
Kirkwood tallied 15 hits and drew eight walks in the offensive outburst. Grant Miller earned the win in relief, striking out three over 2.1 innings as the bullpen steadied things after a high-scoring start.
Game 4 – Kirkwood 15, McHenry County 2
The Eagles closed the weekend in dominant fashion with a 15-2 win in the series finale.
Jax Theeler delivered one of the most impressive performances of the weekend, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Brady Blake blasted a home run and drove in five runs, while Blake Lundholm collected three hits and two RBIs. Wrigley Matthys scored three times and added two hits, and Landon Frost chipped in two doubles and an RBI.
On the mound, Reece Wrage earned the win with 3.0 strong innings, striking out six. Drew Zemaitis and Reid Burkle combined to shut down McHenry over the final two frames as the Eagles racked up 16 hits in the victory.
Next Up
The Eagles return to action this Thursday at 6:00 PM when they take on #4 Heartland CC in the Winter Classic in Normal, IL.
