Shields’ Walk-Off, Ball’s Monster Day Power Chargers to Sweep of Highland

GALESBURG — Jack Shields' two-run walk-off single in Game 1 helped send the Carl Sandburg College baseball team to an Arrowhead Conference sweep over Highland on Thursday at the Hungate Baseball/Softball Complex.

GAME 1
Sandburg 11, Highland 10
Highland          021      031      3          —        10        9          0
Sandburg         410      120      3          —        11        17        1
W: Frank Kelch 1 IP, 1 K, 1 BB

KEY MOMENTS
• The Chargers took an 8-7 lead into the top of the seventh, but the Cougars tied the game with an RBI groundout for the second out of the inning and took a 10-8 lead when Jeremy Freeman followed with a two-run home run.
• Sandburg never made an out in the bottom of the seventh as Michael Kleinhans and Mitch Ball drew back-to-back walks to start the inning, and Bryce Brown double in a run. Shields brought home the tying and game-winning runs with a base hit to center on a 2-1 pitch.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Ball, the Chargers' leadoff man, reached base five times, going 3 for 3 with a pair of walks. The sophomore center fielder homered in the fourth, scored four runs, drove in two and stole a base.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Brown — 2 for 5, two doubles, run, two RBIs
• Shields — 3 for 5, double, run, three RBIs
• Logan Van Heuklon — 2 for 4, double
• Logan Korte — 2 for 3, double, run, RBI
• Frank Kelch — 2 for 3, walk, home run, two RBIs

GAME 2
Sandburg 9, Highland 5
Highland          012      002      0          —        5          7          1
Sandburg         003      150      x          —        9          11        2
W: Julian Harris 4 IP, 5 K, 2 BB

KEY MOMENT
Up 4-3 in the fifth, Sandburg buoyed its lead with a five-run inning. Kelch led off with a walk before consecutive singles from Hunter Caves and Jack Barham loaded the bases. Ball brought all three runners in with a double to left, and Brown tacked on a two-run home run on the next pitch for a 9-3 Chargers advantage.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Ball had another huge contest, going 3 for 4 and finishing a triple shy of the cycle. He scored twice and drove in four runs. Ball leads the Chargers in average (.437), on-base percentage (.530) and slugging (.756) on the season.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Brown — 2 for 5, two doubles, run, two RBIs
• Van Heuklon — 1 for 2, walk, home run, two RBIs

UP NEXT FOR SANDBURG
Noon Saturday vs. Oakton (Sophomore Day) 

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