(Corning) Nodaway Valley put up three runs in the 3rd in three more in the 4th to gain some distance from SW Valley in a Pride of Iowa Conference baseball win on Tuesday. The Wolverines improve to 3-1 on the season with the 7-3 victory.
Starting pitchers Evan Forcht (Nodaway Valley) and Kade Hutchings (SW Valley) were solid through the first few innings. The game was scoreless into the 4th with only four total baserunners up to that point. Nodaway Valley scored three runs on three errors in the 4th inning. SW Valley got some offense going in the bottom of the frame. Blake Thomas singled and was driven in on a base hit by Hutchings to make it a 3-1 game.
Nodaway Valley extended the edge to 6-1 with three runs on three hits in the 5th. All of the productivity came with two outs. Mason Menefee doubled on a ball that was over run by the SW Valley centerfielder. Caelen DeVault followed with an intentional walk and the bases were loaded when Forcht got hit by a pitch. Boston DeVault delivered a two run single and then Matthew Weber added one more with his RBI hit.
An insurance tally was put on the board in the top of the 7th. Forcht walked and his courtesy runner, Anthony Shaw, was brought home by a double from Boston DeVault. Shaw scored three runs on the night.
SW Valley made things interesting in the bottom of the 7th. Down 7-1, they had their first five batters reach safely including four on walks. Forcht faced just one batter in the 7th. He finished the game with four walks and two hits allowed while striking out four. Boston DeVault got the final three outs and worked around three walks to close things out. The Timbervolves etched across a pair of runs in their final chance at the plate, but left the bases loaded.
Kade Hutchings allowed three hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked two (one intentional). Blake Thomas retired the first five he faced in relief. Thomas allowed one run on one hit and two walks with three K’s over two innings. The Timberwolves fall to 1-4 on the season.
