Kelch Collects 2 Hits as Chargers Drop Opener at No. 1 Hawks

NORMAL — Frank Kelch had a pair of hits, but the Carl Sandburg College baseball team dropped its season opener 10-0 at defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Heartland on Friday afternoon.

No. 1 Heartland 10, Sandburg 0 (7 innings)
Sandburg         000      000      0          —        0          3          3
Heartland        200      341      x          —        10        12        1
L-David Smith 3.1 IP, 4 K, 1 BB

KEY MOMENT
The Hawks collected a pair of runs in the first inning and added three in the fourth to open up a 5-0 lead. Heartland's first four batters in the frame reached base, using a double, single, error and another base hit.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Kelch connected for hits in each of his final two at-bats, going 2 for 3 with a double. The sophomore designated hitter, an All-Arrowhead Conference selection a season ago, lined a double to center leading off the fifth and singled to center to open the seventh. Kelch had two of the Chargers' three hits in the opener.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Smith — 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 K

UP NEXT
1 p.m. March 1 at John A. Logan 

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