Home for the first time since the Metro Tournament four weeks ago, the Marion baseball team took a Wamac conference doubleheader Monday night by dominating Independence, 14-1 in five innings and 9-2.

“I guess it’s just a quirk in the conference schedule,” said Marion assistant coach Tom Hauck. “It sure was nice to be back home. It feels good. The boys enjoyed it and it sparked our play. We really got the bats going.”

That may have been an understatement as the Indians amassed 25 hits in the doubleheader. Meanwhile, Marion pitchers struck out 16 and scattered nine hits.

The Indians had a couple of home dates rained out, which helps explain the string of consecutive road trips along the way.

Marion (9-8, 7-5) was led offensively in the first game by Alex Charipar, who went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, and by Caleb Stekl, who was 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Gage Kray and Quinn Cannoy garnered two hits as well.

“We had a good approach to the game tonight,” said Charipar. “I went up there with confidence and saw the ball very well. I was able to move the runners.”

“I concentrated on not trying to do too much,” said Stekl. “I got all fastballs and just tried to hit the ball hard. I came up with three hits. I guess it was just good to be home.”

Levi Lochner pitched five innings in the opener, giving up only two hits while striking out six for the complete-game victory.

“Finding the zone and making the hitters hit the ball is the key to success,” said Lochner. “I mixed up my pitches, but the fastball is always good with two strikes on the hitters.”

Quinn Cannoy collected two hits in each game and knocked in three runs in the nightcap. He also stood tall on the mound in game two.

Cannoy scattered seven hits in seven innings, while striking out 10 Mustangs on the way to a solid victory.

“My curve was working really well tonight and they were swinging,” said Cannoy. “It was also fun at the plate tonight. I got some key hits and helped myself out in that second game.”

David Kuhn added a pair of singles in game two and Caleb Stekl picked up his fourth hit of the night.

“In the past six or seven games we have really been putting the barrel of the bat on the ball,” said Hauck. “Our pitching has been good all season and things are heading in the right direction right now. It really helps to be playing at home.”

Hauck filled in for head coach Steve Fish Monday night. Fish was ejected last Friday when Marion played at Mount Vernon had to serve a suspension. Fish will be back Thursday when Marion hosts Anamosa.

GAME 1

INDEPENDENCE (1): Straw, 2b/p, 2 1 0 0, Pink, cf, 1 0 1 0, McMillan, ss, 2 0 0 0, Fischels, p/3b, 2 0 0 1, Cabell, dh, 2 0 0 0, Walter, lf, 0 0 0 0, Ratchford, 2b, 0 0 0 0, Steger, 1b, 2 0 0 0, Beebe, c, 2 0 1 0, Shannon, cr, 0 0 0 0, Elliott, 3b/lf, 2 0 0 0, House, rf, 2 0 0 0. Totals 17 1 2 1.

MARION (14): Fuller, 2b, 3 3 1 0, Ch.Stekl, ss, 3 2 1 1, Biery, 1b, 2 0 1 0, Fish, 0 1 0 0, Kuhn, ph, 0 0 0 0, Charipar, cf, 3 1 3 3, Kray, 3b, 4 1 2 1, Hardman, rf, 2 1 0 0, Ca.Stekl, c, 3 0 3 2, Larson, cr, 0 2 0 0, Connolly, dh, 3 2 1 2, Lochner, p, 0 0 0 0, Cannoy, lf, 3 1 2 1. Totals 26 14 14 11.

Independence    100 00 - 1 2 2
Marion                119 3x - 14 14 1

Fischels, Straw (3) and Beebe. Lochner and Ca.Stekl. W - Lochner. L - Fischels. 2B - Ch.Stekl, Biery, Ca.Stekl, Cannoy. SB - Fuller, Kray, Connolly.

GAME 2

INDEPENDENCE (2): Straw, 2b, 4 0 0 0, Pink, lf, 1 1 0 0, McMillan, ss, 4 0 2 0, Fischels 3b, 4 0 1 0, Cabell, p, 4 0 1 1, Shannon, cr, 0 0 0 0, Beebe, cf, 3 1 1 0, Ratchford, dh, 3 0 1 0, Steger, 1b, 0 0 0 0, Elliott, rf, 3 0 1 0, House, c, 3 0 0 0. Totals 29 2 7 1.

MARION (9): Fuller, 2b, 3 1 1 0, Carstensen, cr/ph, 1 2 1 0, Ch.Stekl, ss, 4 1 1 0, Kuhn, ph, 0 0 0 0, Charipar, cf, 3 1 3 3, Kray, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Lochner, ph, 1 0 1 1, Ridge, pr, 0 0 0 0, Hardman, rf, 2 1 0 0, Vanderlind, ph, 1 0 1 0, Ca.Stekl, c, 3 0 1 0, Fish, 0 0 0 0, Kuhn, 3b, 2 1 2 0, Miller, ph, 1 0 0 0, Connolly, lf, 3 2 0 1, Cannoy, p, 2 0 2 3, Larson, ph/cr, 1 1 0 0. Totals 30 9 11 7.

Independence   100 100 0 - 2 7 1
Marion                052 002 x - 9 11 2

Cabell and House. Cannoy and Ca.Stekl. W - Cannoy. L - Cabell. 2B - Ch.Stekl. SB - Fuller, Kuhn, Connolly 2, Carstensen.