HUMBOLDT — Cub freshman Conor Haviland rounded the bases twice during the first inning of Humboldt’s game two 15-0 three-inning victory over Eureka and each time was a perfect example of just how overmatched the Tornadoes were against the Cubs.
In his first plate appearance, Haviland stroked a ball into left field and got to second on the strength of his hustle, but a bad throw to second allowed him to go to third and he wasn’t done. Eureka airmailed the throw to third and Haviland broke for home.
The Tornadoes appeared to have him dead-to-rights at the plate, but the catcher whiffed on the catch and Haviland slid past him for to turn a single into a round-tripper thanks to his hustle and some help from Eureka’s defense.
Haviland’s first hit was part of a big streak for the Cubs — as was his second hit — as 14 straight hitters reached base safely in the inning.
“Everybody was stroking the ball,” senior Daylon Splane said.
“We scored all 14 runs with two outs,” Humboldt coach Miller said. “It is good to see them locked in and we had some guys that have been struggling step up… Conor has been a little down, but he has been working his tail off and its paid off.”
Haviland decided to take a simpler approach to scoring his second run of the first inning.
The freshman hit his first career home run over the left field fence as Humboldt built a 14-0 first inning lead.
“I was pretty excited for him,” Splane said. “Especially for a freshman, that is pretty nice to do.”
Josh Vanetta pitched three one-hit innings to get the victory in game two.
Game one was another lopsided win for Humboldt with Wyatt Seufert picking up the victory in the 11-1 romp.
The Cubs were able to save star pitchers Splane and Rayce Hoepker with only four pitches thrown by either of them on Monday and now they get their aces for tonight’s doubleheader in Erie.
“This is a big week for us with six games in four days,” Miller said. “We have our pitching mapped out for the rest of the week.”
LONG CON: Haviland goes deep as Cubs sweep Eureka
