The Marshalltown baseball team was shut out for the fourth time this season, suffering an 18-0, four-inning loss to Ballard in Friday’s non-conference game at Nite Hawk Field.
The Bobcats (1-10) sustained their 10th straight loss after coming up with just two hits. Caleb Kusserow had a one-out single in the top of the first inning and JJ Schoenfelder led off the second with a single, but neither baserunner made it to second.
Schoenfelder was forced out on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Garrett Thede, who was the only Bobcat to reach third after Luke Stalzer was hit by a pitch and Ashton Wright grounded out to the pitcher. A strikeout ended the Bobcats’ best scoring threat of the night.
Ballard (5-5) scored nine times in both the first and second innings. The Bombers rapped out 13 hits and benefited from nine walks and one hit batsman issued by Marshalltown pitching.
“We can’t give extra outs and free bases to any teams and then expect to have a chance at winning,” said MHS first-year head coach Colton Hanke. “We were unable to pitch and field the ball well early in the game.”
Dale Greene was charged for nine runs on four hits, three walks and one hit batter in one-third of an inning for the loss. Gavin Freiberg got the last two outs of the first inning. The Bobcat defense committed just two errors, but the pitching staff threw more balls (48) than strikes (43) in defeat.
“Our goal remains to improve every day, and I’m not sure we took positive steps today,” said Hanke. “Next week the grind of the conference schedule kicks in, but we’re out of school and looking forward to the extra time to get better.”
The Bobcats play three road doubleheaders next week against Iowa Alliance Conference competition, facing Ames on Monday, Des Moines East on Wednesday and Fort Dodge on Thursday.