PARSONS — Iola High’s Mustangs shook off a disappointing extra-inning loss of the first game Monday to claim a 12-1 victory over host Parsons High’s Vikings.
After working overtime and losing the first game 9-8 to the Vikings, the Mustangs used a nine-run fourth inning to take a run-rule win in five frames. The split of the Southeast Kansas League doubleheader left the Mustangs at 5-5 in league play and overall.
“The second game was a solid game all the way around. We played better defensively,” said Mark Percy, Mustang head coach.
“In the first game, we hit the ball pretty well but with five errors defensively we handed them the game.”
Iola had scored two runs in the first inning of the second game. Ryan Latta singled and scored on a triple by Connor Frazell. Chris Heffern got a squeeze bunt down to bring in Frazell.
Taking full advantage of errors, walks, passed balls and wild pitches, the Mustangs produced nine runs in the fourth. Even when Corey Taylor got caught in a rundown at the end of the inning, he stayed in it until Jerrik Sigg could score from third.
Iola added a run in the fifth after Parsons scored one in its half of the fourth.
Sigg got the win on the mound. He allowed three hits, walked four and struck out six.
Frazell had two triples while R. Latta and Sigg each had two singles. Clint Heffern singled.
Iola had a 6-2 lead in the opener. The Vikings scored five runs in the fifth inning to take the lead.
Iola came right back. Mason Coons drew a leadoff walk in the sixth and moved around to score on a single by Devon Conner. Levi Ashmore followed with a single then with two gone, Chris Heffern drove in a run with a base hit.
Parsons was able to tie the game in the seventh inning. Neither team scored in the first extra inning but in the ninth, the Vikings turned back-to-back walks to begin the inning and an Iola error to score the winning run.
Frazell started and went five innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits and one walk. He struck out four. Taylor pitched the final four innings, giving up two runs on two hits, six walks, one hit batter and two strikeouts.
Hitting two singles each were Ashmore, R. Latta, Frazell and Ch. Heffern. Taylor doubled. Sigg, Cl. Heffern, Coons and Conner each had a single.
Iola goes to Humboldt Friday for the annual Walter Johnson Baseball Tournament. Neodesha plays Humboldt at 10 a.m. followed by Iola playing Yates Center at around noon.
The losers of those games play in a consolation game at 2:45. The championship game is at 5 p.m.
Mustangs, Vikings split an SEK doubleheader
