The Ankeny baseball team extended its winning streak to four games on Wednesday before visiting Urbandale posted a 7-5 victory in the second game to salvage a split of a doubleheader.
The Hawks had won the opener, 3-2, in walk-off fashion. They are now 2-4 in the CIML Conference and 4-8 overall, while Urbandale’s records are 1-4 and 6-5.
“Game 1 was a good ball game,” said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. “I made a coaching mistake in the sixth (inning). We had a chance to play with guys on base and nobody out, and I got Kinnick (Vos) blown up at home plate. And that’s on me.
“But our guys did a nice job of not panicking,” he added.
Ben Taylor led off with a single to ignite Ankeny’s winning rally in the bottom of the seventh. RJ St. Romain drew a walk, then both runners advanced on a bunt by Easton Lowe.
After Samuel Sandvig got hit by a pitch to load the bases, Brady Carter drew another walk to force in Taylor with the winning run.
“It was nice to see that response,” said Balvanz, whose team also had a walk-off win against No. 9 Ankeny Centennial on Monday. “We had five quality at-bats in a row to win it.”
Cole Nuzum (2-0) earned the win in relief. He fanned two of the three batters he retired in the top of the seventh.
“Cole threw just 14 pitches,” Balvanz said. “He’s been our guy at the end of games lately. He’s a tremendous young man and a hard worker. He’s a team-first guy. I’m really proud of him.”
Taylor went 2-for-3 and scored twice in the win. Carter went 2-for-3 and had two RBIs, while Sandvig doubled and drove in a run.
In the second game, Urbandale’s Patrick Wilbanks went 4-for-5 and had three RBIs. Luke Karaidos and Tony Ruden each went 3-for-4 with a triple.
Ryan Buffington (0-2), the first of four Ankeny pitchers, took the loss. He allowed three earned runs on five hits over 1 1/3 innings.
“We just give up too many free base runners right now,” Balvanz said. “That can be hard to overcome at times, especially against quality opponents.”
Will Davies, Kobe Behrens and Taylor each had an RBI for the Hawks. Behrens has been filling in for senior center fielder Evan Irlmeier, who is out with a hamstring injury.
“It was a little sloppy at times in Game 2,” Balvanz said. “We left nine guys on base. I don’t think we played well enough to win that one. We need to be sharper, but I think we’ll bounce back.”
Ankeny will play another conference doubleheader on Thursday at Southeast Polk. The Rams are 3-1 in the league and 11-5 overall after splitting at Centennial on Wednesday.