#7 Kirkwood Goes 2-2 on Opening Weekend
Liberal, KS- The #7 Kirkwood Eagles traveled to Liberal, KS this past weekend to kick off their 2025 season. In the first game of the season, the Eagles jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on an Alex Altmann single to score leadoff hitter Adam Kayko. For the second straight year, Andrew Carroll got the opening nod for the Kirkwood Eagles. He ran into some trouble in the first inning against Seward CC as they scored 3 in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead.
Grant Miller came into relief of Carroll in the bottom of the 4th and threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings to keep the game within striking distance. Going into the last inning, the Eagles were down 5-3 before a hit by pitch by Nathan Motl got the team rolling. Ty Andrews followed with a walk before back to back hits by Kayko and Addison Binnie to plate a couple runs. Clean-up hitter Cal Sullivan then hit a double to deep center field to score Binnie to make it 7-5. Going into the last half-inning, the Eagles ran into some trouble before Josh Loren shut the door getting a strikeout and double-play with the bases loaded to notch the save. Grant Miller picked up the win in relief.
In game 2 of the double-header, Boede Rahe was stellar, going five shutout innings and getting six strikeouts in his first career start. The game was tied going into the bottom of the 6th inning before Seward CC scored two runs. The Eagles responded in the 7th with back to back hits to start the inning by 3rd basemen Matt Stoltenberg and shortstop Blake Lundholm with Stoltenberg eventually scoring on a fielder's choice by Addison Binnie. Going into the final frame, the Eagles were down 5-2 before rallying once again. Outfielder Lane Spieker lead off the inning with a line drive down the third base line. After a HBP by Binnie, DH Cal Sullivan hammered a ball to deep center to plate two runs before Alex Altmann tied it up with a single of his own to tie the game at 5-5. It wasn't enough, however, as Seward CC walked it off with a single down the right field line to split on the day.
Kirkwood was looking to replicate what it did against Seward in game one on day 2 against Seward, to kick off another double-header. It took no time for the Kirkwood baseball offense to get going in game 1 of their double-header as they scored 15 runs in the first 3 innings. The offense was lead by outfielder Landon Frost who had a Homerun and a triple to plate 5 Eagles. Catcher Jaxon Schumacher had two triples of his own and 4 RBIs. All-region returners Clayton Campidili and Cal Sullivan both scored 3 runs and multiple RBIs of their own. Jackson Niederwerder came into relief in the second inning and pitched the final four frames to pick up the win.
Beau Leisure got the start in the second game of the day and was light outs, throwing 4 innings, 0 ER, and 5 Ks. Going into the 5thinning, Seward CC was up 1-0 before the Eagles responded with two runs of their own. Jaxon Shumacher led off the inning with a double and scored two batters later on a error by the pitcher fielding a sac bunt by Kade Knock. Second baseman Nathan Motl followed with a double to score Knock and take the lead. Seward CC responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th to make it 5-2 and shut the door on the Kirkwood offense the rest of the game to split the day once again.
Kirkwood will return to action this weekend when they head to Missouri to take on St. Charles Community College, Southwestern Illinois College, and College of Dupage. The action kicks off on Saturday at 9:00 AM.
