The Humboldt Cubs remain undefeated in Tri-Valley Conference play after sweeping Erie Thursday night.
The Cubs made quick work of the Red Devils, ending both contests early with 10-0 run-rules.
“Erie challenged us, that’s for sure, but we left a lot of runners on base,” Humboldt coach Mike Miller said. “Especially in that first game, where we needed one hit to break things open. We couldn’t come up with it. We couldn’t find it. The pitchers did a great job while we struggled at the plate a little bit.”
Humboldt senior pitcher Cole Mathes allowed just three hits over four innings while racking up nine strikeouts. Thursday’s victory in the batter’s box was a true team effort with five players registering RBIs.
Following a scoreless first inning, sophomore designated hitter Gavin Gunderman put the Cubs on the scoreboard with an RBI sacrifice fly, then Mathes added another on an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. In the second inning, senior first baseman Colden Cook scored on a passed ball and catcher Jacob Harrington drove in a run for a 4-0 lead.
“I was just feeling it today. Coach told me last week I was starting on the bump,” said Mathes, who typically comes in as a reliever or closer. “I was ready, and excited. That’s really all it was.”
Mathes gave senior catcher Jacob Harrington credit with helping him with the calls. “I’m not really a starting pitcher. I liked it,” he said.
In the fifth inning, senior third baseman Kyler Isbell scored on a wild pitch, then senior shortstop Blake Ellis’ double plated Isbell. Mathes, who later scored on another wild pitch, forced an infield error to score as the Cubs teetered on a run-rule victory 9-0. Senior center fielder Logan Page sealed it with an RBI single.
The Cubs also forced an early stoppage in the finale after scoring three runs in the first inning, three runs in the second and four in the third for a 10-0 win. After pitching a shutout in the opener, Mathes hit in 2 of 2 appearances with an RBI and two walks.
“I’m just having fun,” Mathes said. “That’s when I play better. When I don’t think too much and just play for the love of the game.”
Mathes’ RBI single got the Cubs started in the first, followed by a Cook sacrifice fly. Isbell forced an infield error for a score, quickly adding three runs to the scoreboard.
Sandwiched between a pair of runs on wild pitches, senior catcher Jacob Harrington’s third-inning line drive took the score to 6-0. The Red Devils’ pitching woes continued in the fourth inning with walks plating three runners before a Harrington RBI grounder sealed the 10-0 victory.
“It was just the team really. We get excited in the first inning, and everyone starts hitting. The mojo in the dugout gets everyone going,” Harrington said.
With the win, the Cubs improved to 4-1 and are 4-0 in the Tri-Valley Conference. With Thursday’s game relocated to Humboldt due to flooding at Erie’s fields, the Cubs remain at home when they host Bluestem for a Monday doubleheader, then head on the road Thursday to face the Chanute Comets. 
“We’re not a finished product. We have a lot of things we still need to clean up,” Miller said. “We have to do a better job of stringing hits together and putting better at-bats together, especially when we have runners in scoring position, but I’m pleased overall. Most importantly we were clean defensively tonight.”
