JAMESTOWN - The Eagles find themselves in a spot they haven't been in this season, a losing-streak. After defeating Higbee 10-0 in five innings last Tuesday, Jamestown dropped a pair of games to Eugene and Pilot Grove.
"They're a good team," Jamestown coach Jordan Hoecker said of Pilot Grove. "They make the plays they need to make and they stayed mentally in it the whole time. That's something we're striving for. We've been in most games but today we weren't in it mentally."
Down 4-0 in the sixth, the Eagles had bases-loaded with one out, but could only push across one run before Evan Knierim grounded into a double play to end the threat.
"I thought we had some moments where we did get mentally back in it," Hoecker said. "We had a chance in the sixth to get something done. We had a ground ball that usually gets through, but it was right at their guy."
Starting pitcher, Alex Gerlach, stranded four Tiger base runners in the first two innings, pitching out of trouble he and his teammates get him into. An error, three walks and a fielder's choice allowed Pilot Grove to have five base runners in those innings.
In total, the Tigers stranded 10 base runners.
Gerlach allowed four runs - two earned - on seven hits in six innings of work. He struck out seven and walked four.
"He pitched well enough to win for sure," Hoecker said. "We just have to make sure we're backing him up on defense and getting it done on offense."
The Tigers finally broke through in the third, scoring three runs on three singles and an error. The second of the three runs scored when Gerlach tried to pick off the runner at first, who was then caught in a run-down. Preoccupied by the runner, the defense allowed the lead-baserunner at third to sprint home.
Pilot Grove push its lead to 4-0 in the fifth when Alex Twenter doubled to left to score Jacob Twenter.
Jamestown had plenty of opportunities to cut into the lead.
Before they had bases loaded in the sixth, Austin Flippin gave 2-2 pitch a ride to the center field fence, but the wind knocked it down for the first out. Then, Gerlach and Garrett Wolfe had back-t0-back singles, but two fly outs ended the inning.
"We just have to keep working through it," said Hoecker. "The guys can (hit), and do it well. We just have to get to that point."
On Thursday, Jamestown allowed a run in the sixth and stranded six runners throughout the game, falling to Eugene 2-1. The loss snapped Jamestown's eight-game winning streak.
Knierim homered the fourth, a solo shot over the left field fence, but that would be the only offense for the Eagles who were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
"We've been really good at hitting with runners in scoring position, and sometimes that's just going to average out," Hoecker said. "Today wasn't our day at the plate. We need to make sure we're centering the ball better."
Wolfe pitched six innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits and striking out five.
"It was a solid team we went against today, and (Wolfe) executed some key pitches in key spots," Hoecker said. "I thought he did well."
Knierim led the offense, going 2-for-3 from the plate with an RBI.
Jamestown junior varsity fell to Eugene 5-3.
The Eagles scored 10 runs on 14 hits, defeating Higbee 10-0 in five innings last Tuesday.
They scored a run in every inning but the second, including a five-run fourth inning. They put up two in the first and third and one in the fifth.
Christian DeVore hit a two-run home run in the first, scoring Wolfe, and Wolfe and DeVore scored again the third. Wolfe scored when DeVore singled to left field, and DeVore's brother, Colton DeVore, singled to left to score Christian DeVore to push the lead to 4-0.
Gerlach homered to left in the fourth to give Jamestown a 7-0 lead and Colton DeVore's singled to right to score Christian DeVore and Knierim. Gerlach's double in the fifth gave the Eagles a 10-0 lead.
Gerlach, Wolfe, Christian DeVore, Colton DeVore, Austin Flippin and Gerrett Jones all had multiple hits. Gerlach, Christian DeVore and Colton DeVore had three RBI and Flippin had one RBI.
Christian DeVore started on the bump for Jamestown, allowing three hits and no runs, while striking out eight in five innings of work.
Jamestown (9-3, 3-2 CCAA) travels to Calvary Lutheran on Thursday at 5 p.m. before playing in the Russellville Round Robin this weekend.