Hawks rally for 9-8 victory in 8 innings, salvage twinbill split at No. 10 S.E. Polk

Ankeny’s Samuel Sandvig swings at a pitch during the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader at Southeast Polk. The Hawks dropped a 4-2 decision in the opener, but then earned a split with a 9-8 victory in eight innings in the nightcap. (Photo by Dan Holm)

The Ankeny baseball team salvaged a split of Thursday’s doubleheader at 10th-ranked Southeast Polk to remain a half-game behind the Rams in the CIML Conference standings.

After Southeast Polk posted a 4-2 win in the opener, the Hawks rallied for a 9-8 victory in eight innings in the nightcap. It was their third triumph in four extra-inning games this season.

The Rams are now 7-10 in the league and 17-11 overall. Ankeny’s records are 7-11 and 12-18.

Southeast Polk held a 6-4 lead in the second game before the Hawks scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Rams tied it at 7-7 in the bottom of the frame, then both teams scored a run in the seventh before Ankeny plated the winning run in the eighth.

Jack Clevidence went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs in the victory. Blake Morgan drove in a pair of runs.

**Coach Joe Balvanz, his assistants and the Ankeny players watch from the dugout during Thursday’s first game. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Will Davies went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Kinnick Vos went 2-for-3 with a double and scored twice.

Carson Riggs went 2-for-2, and Karsten Bernholtz went 2-for-4. They both scored a run.

Jack Goodwin (3-0) earned the win in relief of Clevidence. He allowed just one earned run on one hit and had two strikeouts over the last four innings.

Noah Trexel went 2-for-4 with an RBI and had two of the Rams’ five doubles. Maddox O’Connor also doubled and knocked in two runs.

Southeast Polk used a four-run second inning to win the first game. The Rams scored all of those runs without getting a hit.

**Ankeny’s Zach Halverson pitches to a Southeast Polk batter during Thursday’s opener. (Photo by Dan Holm)**

Zach Halverson (1-4) took the loss, allowing one earned run over two-plus innings. He did not allow a hit, but walked four batters.

Ankeny also committed three errors, two of them in the second inning.

Morgan went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the loss. Clevidence also went 2-for-3 and drove in a run.

Freshman Mason Olson got the win for Southeast Polk. He scattered seven hits over the first five innings.

Ankeny will host two games in the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday. The Hawks will face Class 3A No. 5 Sioux City Heelan (21-7) at 2:30 p.m., then will meet Ankeny Christian Academy (13-4) at 4:45 p.m.