#5 Eagles Start 7-0 at RussMatt Florida Invitational
Winter Haven, FL- The #5 Kirkwood Eagles Baseball team traveled south to the Sunshine State this week to compete in the prestigious RussMatt Florida Invitational, an annual event that hosts more than 250 college programs across NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, and NJCAA divisions. Through their first seven games in Florida, the Eagles have been nothing short of dominant, remaining undefeated while showcasing explosive offense, strong pitching, and standout individual performances across the lineup.
Game 1 – Kirkwood 3, Jackson College 2
The Eagles opened the RussMatt Florida Invitational with a tight 3–2 victory over Jackson College, relying on timely hitting and strong pitching to secure the win.
Blake Lundholm delivered the biggest swing of the game, going 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs, while Landon Frost added an RBI to account for Kirkwood's three runs.
On the mound, Jackson Niederwerder started the game and struck out seven hitters over 4.1 innings, allowing just one earned run. Reid Burkle then shut the door in relief, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts while allowing no hits to secure the win.
The Eagles pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts, setting the tone for the rest of the week in Florida.
Game 2 – Kirkwood 8, Jackson College 5
Kirkwood followed up the opening win with an 8–5 victory over Jackson College, using steady offense throughout the game to stay unbeaten early in the invitational.
The Eagles finished with nine hits, highlighted by Brady Blake, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Will Nuss also had a strong day at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and triple, while Cam Templeton added two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI.
Landon Frost, Ty Andrews, and Templeton each drove in runs as Kirkwood continued to apply offensive pressure throughout the contest.
The Eagles bullpen sealed the win behind Drew Zemaitis, who earned the victory with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief and three strikeouts, while Collin Homan recorded the save with a perfect final inning.
Game 3 – Kirkwood 16, Marian University Ancilla 5
Kirkwood's offense exploded in their matchup against Marian University Ancilla, pounding out 17 hits in a 16–5 victory.
Landon Frost led the offensive charge, finishing 3-for-5 with four RBIs, while Jax Theeler went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Wrigley Matthys had a huge day as well, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, and Blake Lundholmadded two hits, two RBIs, and four runs scored.
Behind the plate, Ty Andrews blasted a home run and drove in a run, while CJ Davis chipped in two hits and two RBIsas the Eagles pulled away late.
After a tough opening inning, the Kirkwood bullpen settled in. Alex Knudtson earned the win with 3.2 scoreless innings and three strikeouts, helping the Eagles regain control of the game.
Game 4 – Kirkwood 13, Mid Michigan 1
Kirkwood continued its offensive surge with a 13–1 win over Mid Michigan College, tallying 15 hits in the contest.
Landon Frost had a monster game, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Brady Blake added three RBIs of his own. Blake Lundholm chipped in two hits and two RBIs, and CJ Davis scored three runs.
Adam Kayko was perfect at the plate, finishing 3-for-4, and Ty Andrews added two hits.
On the mound, Grant Miller delivered a dominant performance, throwing five innings while allowing just one hit and striking out five. Joe Timmerman closed out the final two innings without allowing a run.
Game 5 – Kirkwood 29, Mid Michigan 2
The Eagles delivered one of their most explosive performances of the season in a 29–2 run-rule victory over Mid Michigan later that same day.
Kirkwood scored 29 runs on 16 hits, highlighted by a monster day from Jax Theeler, who went 4-for-4 with five RBIs, including a home run and triple. Landon Jasper was equally impressive, launching two home runs and driving in five runs.
Blake Lundholm added two hits and two RBIs, Trevor Scott drove in three runs, and Brady Blake added two RBIsas the Eagles scored in four of the five innings played.
On the mound, Adrian Broadus picked up the win, striking out six over four innings, while Rowan Donels finished the game with a scoreless inning of relief.
Game 6 – Kirkwood 13, Prairie State College 3
The Eagles kept their momentum rolling with another big offensive showing in a 13–3 win over Prairie State College.
Wrigley Matthys delivered one of the best individual performances of the trip, going 5-for-6 with six RBIs, including a double and triple.
Brady Blake added two hits and two RBIs, including a home run, while Landon Frost also homered and finished with two hits and an RBI. CJ Davis contributed two RBIs, and Ty Andrews scored three runs.
On the mound, Kye Smith earned the win, pitching 5.2 strong innings with seven strikeouts, while Jordan Woodhouseand Oliver Lindstrom finished the game in relief.
Game 7 – Kirkwood 12, Macomb Community College 0
Kirkwood capped the opening stretch of the invitational with a 12–0 shutout victory over Macomb Community College.
The Eagles jumped out early, scoring six runs in the first inning and adding to the lead throughout the shortened five-inning contest. Macomb managed just one hit in the game while Kirkwood pitchers kept the opposition off balance all morning.
Kirkwood's offense continued its consistent production, drawing 11 walks and collecting nine hits while capitalizing on Macomb pitching miscues to extend their undefeated run.
Next Up
The Eagles will continue their Florida trip with four more games remaining in the RussMatt Invitational. Kirkwood will face Macomb today, followed by Prairie State College on Wednesday, before closing the trip with a doubleheader against the University of Connecticut at Avery Point on Friday, March 13th.
