An early 2-0 lead evaporated quickly for the Ankeny baseball team on Monday as the Hawks dropped an 8-5 decision at ninth-ranked Waukee Northwest.
After Ankeny’s Jack Clevidence hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning, Northwest answered with three runs in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth to build a 6-2 advantage. The Wolves went on to sweep the season series.
The homer by Clevidence was the Hawks’ fifth of the year. He leads the team with two home runs, 27 RBIs and a .404 average.
Blake Morgan doubled and drove in a run in the loss. Samuel Sandvig and Kinnick Vos each had a hit, and Sandvig also scored three times.
Travis Gerstel (5-2), the first of four Ankeny pitchers, took the loss. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits over three-plus innings.
Andrew Eastman had one of Northwest’s four doubles and knocked in two runs. Drew Fitzpatrick went 3-for-4 with a double and scored twice, while Gus Ruggle and Jonah Sweeney each doubled and had an RBI.
Will Bowen earned the win for the Wolves, combining with two relievers on a four-hitter. He allowed two earned runs and had two strikeouts over the first five innings.
Northwest improved to 10-8 in the CIML Conference and 19-11 overall. The Hawks’ records dropped to 7-12 and 13-20.
Ankeny will play a CIML Conference doubleheader on Wednesday at No. 4 Ankeny Centennial (21-7).
