MASON CITY - Ross Kramer had socked only one home run all season for  the Kirkwood Eagles heading into Friday's doubleheader at NIACC, but  that changed dramatically.

Kramer belted three homers and knocked in six runs as the Eagles  topped NIACC, 10-6, in the first game of their ICCAC conference  doubleheader at Mason City.

NIACC rallied to win the second game, 3-2, in 10 innings, but the  split was good enough to lift Kirkwood into a tie for the conference  lead with six games left in the race.

Kramer, a freshman from Urbandale, collected a grand slam and two solo  shots in the first game. Spencer Wiskus, a freshman from Iowa City,  also hit a homer and drove in four runs for the Eagles.

Porter Hummel picked up the victory with five innings in relief.

Kirkwood led, 2-0, heading into the bottom of the ninth in the second  game, needing three outs to sweep the twinbill and take over sole  possession of first place in the league. NIACC scored twice in the  bottom of the ninth and pushed across the winning run with one out in  the 10th for the victory.

Kirkwood starter Joe Funkhouser pitched a shutout for 7 1/3 innings  before leaving in the eighth, having thrown 115 pitches in the  ballgame, but the bullpen was unable to hold the lead.

Korry Howell drove in both of Kirkwood's runs in the nightcap.

The split pulled Kirkwood into a flat-footed tie with 13th-ranked  Southeastern for first place in the ICCAC standings with identical  12-6 records. Southeastern was swept by DMACC Friday in a doubleheader  at Southeastern.

NIACC (11-7), Iowa Central (12-8) and DMACC (13-9) are all tied for  third place in the incredibly tight standings, just one game behind  the co-leaders.

Kirkwood (30-13) and NIACC (30-15) are scheduled for another twinbill  in Mason City Saturday. The Eagles are scheduled to host Southeastern  in a four-game series next Friday and Saturday.

GAME 1

Kirkwood     000 450 1 -10 8 2
NIACC        202 020 0 - 6 8 2

W - Hummel. L - Williamson.

GAME 2

Kirkwood     000 100 010 0 - 2 5 1
NIACC        000 000 002 1 - 3 11 1

W - Stewart. L - Wadle.