If it were up to head coach Jason Book, he’d probably schedule Ballard for every remaining regular season game.
ADM baseball picked up its first win in more than two weeks over the last team it had beaten Monday night in Slater, crushing Ballard, 10-1, to snap its nine-game losing streak and complete the season sweep of the streaking Bombers (12-14, 4-8 RRC).
The Tigers (8-18, 3-10 RRC) last picked up a win on June 18 in Adel over the Bombers, an impressive 11-1 win in five innings via run rule. Since then, they suffered through the extended losing streak mainly because its offense struggled mightily, managing just eight runs over the past eight games, including five shutout losses.
On Monday, ADM against pounced early on Ballard pitching and gave more than enough support to senior lefty Sam Kornstad, who was dominant.
ADM jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second,when the Tigers sent 10 men to the plate and took advantage of a one-out error by left fielder Isiah Johnson. Logan Lemke got things started with a leadoff single and came home two batters later on Jack O’Brien’s double to left-center. Elijah McCartney knocked in O’Brien two batters later, and Sam Kornstad, who reached on Johnsons’ error, came home when Joe Sloss was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Colin Gavin capped the four-run frame with a run-scoring single in the next at-bat.
The Tigers then took advantage of wild pitching from Ballard in the sixth, needing just three hits to score six runs while sending 11 to the plate. ADM loaded the bases with one out on a Chase Eddie double, Logan Lemke hit-by-pitch and O’Brien bloop single. Ballard starter Gannon Manfull’s day was then finished when he walked Kornstad to force in a run, and the Tigers drew three consecutive walks that scored two more runs. After a strikeout, Eddie followed with his second hit of the inning, a two-out, two-run single.
Eddie (2-for-4, double, run, two RBI) and O’Brien (2-4, double, two runs, RBI) paced the ADM offense with their multi-hit efforts.
Kornstad (3-2) was one out away from finishing the game via run-rule in the fifth when Isaiah Johnson drove in a run with a one-hop shot past O’Brien at first. The senior was otherwise brilliant in going the distance, allowing just the one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Manfull (2-1) lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits with one walk, one strikeout and three hit batters.
ADM returns home Tuesday night for a non-conference matchup with Chariton. Varsity first pitch will be at approximately 7:30 p.m.