(Avoca) AHSTW won their third straight game when they topped Missouri Valley 5-2 at home on Tuesday. The Vikings never trailed and move to 3-1 on the season. The Big Reds are now 0-5.
AHSTW led 3-0 after the first inning thanks to hits from Joel Sampson, Sam Porter, Blake Holst, and Joey Cunningham. Sampson singled, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, and scored on a Porter double. Porter went to 3rd on a Clayton Akers groundout and scored on a Blake Holst triple. Holst touched home plate after a popup by Joey Cunningham dropped in shallow left field.
Missouri Valley struck for two runs in the 2nd inning to close within 3-2. All the damage came with two outs. Jacob Meade singled, Gavin Bartalini reached on an E6, and Alec Fichter singled to load the bases. A run came in when Cody Gilpin popped one up in front of home plate and the ball was dropped by the catcher. The next batter up was Gage Clausen who delivered an RBI single. Clausen went 2/4 in the game.
AHSTW added single tallies in the 4th and 5th innings. Joey Goins had a leadoff double in the 4th, moved to 3rd on a Lucas Young groundout, and scored on a Nick Denning groundout. In the 5th inning it was a single and stolen base by Blake Holst that set up the score. Holst was singled in by Cunningham to push the lead to 5-2.
Cunningham threw five innings and allowed six hits, one walk, and struck out four. Porter fired a scoreless 6th and 7th with one hits, one hit batter, no walks, and four K’s. AHSTW tallied ten hits off of Missouri Valley starter Lane Harper. Jacob Meade struck out all three batters he faced upon relieving Harper in the 6th. Holst, Cunningham, and Porter had two hits each. Sampson, Young, Denning, and Goins each had one hit.
