The Allen Community College baseball team swept its slate of home weekend games against Highland Community College on Friday and Sunday.
The Red Devils (12-7) victory on Sunday marked their 10th straight in a row. Allen pitchers impressed most through the weekend, allowing no more than four runs in a game.
Game one
Head coach Clint Stoy’s Red Devils benefited most from taking extra bases early and often against Highland’s pitching in a 13-3 victory.
The Red Devils went up 4-1 after the first inning before scoring one run in the fourth and four more runs in the fifth inning for a 9-3 advantage.
“They didn’t give up a lot of stolen bases coming into the series and that’s what we do,” Allen head coach Clint Stoy said. “We try to run and do some things and that’s our identity. We’re not hitting the best but we’re finding ways to win. Our pitching keeps us in it.”
Red Devil pitcher John James threw six innings, allowing only three runs on four hits and struck out two Scotties.
Anthony Nino was the lead hitter for Allen driving in four runs, followed by Cade Schupp’s two RBIs. Blake Venneman and Nino each knocked three hits while Gage Stark, Brandon Harper and Schupp each had two hits.
Game two
Allen’s Brett Buchanan and Noe Stroer led the Red Devils on the mound in a low-scoring 4-3 victory in game two.
Highland led 1-0 in the top of the first before the Red Devils scored in the bottom of the second inning. After the Scotties took a one-run lead in the top of the fifth, Allen scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth and another in the ninth.
“We came from behind like you’ve seen us do a number of times,” said Stoy. “This club has a bit of resiliency and finds ways to win. Pinch hits and bringing in guys in certain situations to know your personnel and get the most out of them, I thought they executed.”
Buchanan tossed four innings and allowed only one run on three hits and struck out seven batters. Noe Stroer then came on in relief to pitch and allowed only one run on two hits through four innings.
Jack Bland was credited with the win, working the final inning and allowing only one run.
Four Red Devils drove in runs in the game two victory in Garrett Rusch, Rhett Jaggers, Armando Navarro and Nino. Nino cleaned up at the plate with a two-hit day.
