After taking both ends of Saturday's doubleheader against No.2 DMACC, Kirkwood was right back at it again Sunday, but with less success.

DMACC took the first game 7-1 in 10 innings and the second game 3-1 at Kirkwood.

Kirkwood (19-7, 7-5 ICCAC) had plenty of opportunities in the opener, but managed only one run on 11 hits. Kirkwood third baseman Dairo Gonzales went 5-for-5 with two doubles and accounted for the lone Eagle run with a solo home run in the fourth inning. Dennis Colon also contributed a pair of singles.

“Gonzales was outstanding all day,” said Kirkwood Coach Todd Rima. “He carried us offensively. We just didn’t seem to get the key hits when we needed them.”

“I was pretty happy with my hitting today,” said Gonzales. “Yesterday I did not hit like I wanted to and I wanted to be more mentally prepared today. Today was much better, but I would rather win.”

Freshman pitcher Cale Henke gave up a run in the first inning and then didn’t give up another run until the 10th.  He threw 116 pitches in 9 1/3 innings, a masterful performance.

“Henke has been great for us all year,” said Rima. “We just couldn’t get him any runs. He pitched well enough to get a win.”

“After a week off because of rain, my arm felt pretty good,” said Henke. “I was hitting the outside corner low and away like the coach wants and the wind helped make my curve ball a little sharper today.”

DMACC (28-5, 11-3) put a six spot on the board in the top of the 10th on the strength of a grand slam by Blake Molitor. Edwin Medina also chipped in three hits for the Bears in game one.

Game two was a tightly played game as well. The Eagles only managed one run on a wild pitch in the first inning. Gonzales only had one of Kirkwood’s five hits, but when he made the final out in the bottom of the seventh, it was the only time that DMACC got him out all day. Angel Merced led the attack with a pair of singles in three at bats.

Cedar Rapids Prairie graduate Anthony Gagliardi started for Kirkwood in the second game.  He pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up two runs while striking out six.

“Gags was a bonus for us today,” said Rima.  “He hasn’t started since February and we are going to need his pitching down the stretch as the season progresses.”

Molitor had three hits in game two and Medina added two more for DMACC.

GAME 1

DMACC (7): Medina, cf, 4 2 3 0, Williams, lf, 4 0 1 0, Cannella, ph, 1 0 1 2, Collins, pr, 0 1 0 0, Overbeck, 3b, 5 1 1 1, B.Molitor, c, 4 1 2 4, Serratore, dh, 4 0 0 0, Coghlin, 1b, 5 0 0 0, S.Molitor, 2b, 3 1 1 0, Wolfe, ss, 2 1 0 0, Fiala, rf, 3 0 0 0, Fritze, p, 0 0 0 0, Ayala, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 35 7 9 7.

KIRKWOOD (1): Schenck-Joblinske, lf, 4 0 0 0, Feliz, cf, 4 0 1 0, Gonzalez, 3b, 5 1 5 1, Brodzinski, c, 4 0 1 0, Rodriguez, 1b, 5 0 1 0, Merced, dh, 2 0 0 0, Croes, dh, 2 0 0 0, Adams, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Colon, ss, 3 0 2 0, Hagarty, rf, 4 0 0 0, Henke, p, 0 0 0 0, Triulzi, p 0 0 0 0. Totals 37 1 11 1.

DMACC     100 000 000 6 – 7   9 0
Kirkwood   000 100 000 0 – 1 11 1

Fritze, Ayala (7) and B.Molitor. Henke, Triulzi (10) and Brodzinski. W - Ayala (6-1). L – Henke (3-2)2B – Gonzalez 2 HR – B.Molitar, Gonzalez.

GAME 2

DMACC (3): Medina, cf, 3 1 2 0, Williams, lf, 3 0 0 1, Overbeck, 3b, 3 0 0 0, B.Molitor, c, 4 1 3 1, Sarratore, dh, 3 0 1 1, . Collins, dh, 1 0 1 0, Fiala, ss, 0 0 0 0,  Coghlin, 1b, 4 0 1 0, S.Molitor, 2b, 4 0 0 0, Wolfe, ss/p, 3 0 1 0, Leuschke, rf, 3 1 2 0, Holmes, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 31 3 11 3.

KIRKWOOD (1): Schenck-Joblinske, lf, 4 1 1 0, Feliz, cf, 4 0 1 0, Gonzalez, 3b, 2 0 1 0, Jones, dh, 2 0 0 0, Rodriguez, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Merced, c, 3 0 2 0, Adams, 2b, 2 0 0 0, Colon, ss, 3 0 0 0, Kemp, rf, 2 0 0 0, Gagliard, p, 0 0 0 0, Bauzo, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 25 1 5 0.

DMACC     100 011 0 – 3 11 1
Kirkwood   100 000 0 – 1  5 1

Holmes, Wolfe (7) and B.Molitor. Gagliardi, Bauzo (5) and Merced. W - Holmes. L - Gagliardi. 2B – Schenck-Joblinske. SB – Medina (2), Leuschke.