PITTSBURG — The Iola A Indians couldn’t recover from early deficits and were swept in Pittsburg Wednesday night.
Iola (6-4) fell behind early in both games when Pittsburg Post 64 scored three runs in the first two innings of game one and five runs in the second inning of game two. The Indians could only come up with six hits and two runs of offense in the 5-0 and 6-2 losses.
Game one — 5-0 loss
Pittsburg struck quickly in the opener when Kole Wiles singled to center field to drive home a run for the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Carston Simmons got the start on the mound for Pittsburg going five innings of shutout ball with only two hits allowed. Grant Nickle tossed the final two innings in relief. He struck out two and had no hits.
Pittsburg’s Jett Burgess singled to center to plate two more runs in the bottom of the second for the 3-0 advantage.
In the fifth, Wiles doubled to center field to bring home two runs and put Iola in a 5-0 deficit.
Kyler Isbell started for Iola, lasting 2.2 innings after allowing three runs on four hits with three walks. Grady Dougherty threw the final 2.1 frames and allowed two runs on three hits.
Game two — 6-2 loss
A five-run second inning from Pittsburg sank Iola’s ship. Gavin Jones was tagged with the loss on the mound, working two innings and serving up five runs.
Easton Weseloh scored on a passed ball for Iola’s early 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
In the bottom of the second, Pittsburg’s Will Schremmer singled to left field to bring home a run and knot the game at 1-1. The next at bat saw Jayden Brown double to center field to plate one more run for the 2-1 lead.
McCoy Jones then singled to center in the next at bat to plate two runs for the Indians’ 4-1 lead. Nate Mitchell chipped in with a fly ball reach due to an error to plate another run and sink Iola into a 5-1 hole.
When Iola’s Blake Ellis grounded out to shortstop in the third, it scored Cole Mathes and made it a 5-2 ballgame.
Pittsburg’s Lane Stultz grounded to third base to score Simmons for the 6-2 final score.
Ellis drove home the lone run for Iola while Drake Weir, Tyler Lord, Mathes and Ellis each had one hit apiece. Mathes totaled two bases and Lord stole one base.
Iola hosted the Garnett Muddogs Thursday evening. Results were unavailable by press time.
