DARLINGTON — After a narrow, 4-2 victory in its first meeting against the Panthers, Darlington 10-run ruled Iowa-Grant 11-1 in five innings on Tuesday, May 9. 

Darlington pounded out 14 hits — three of which were extra-base — for 11 runs. In their last seven games, the Redbirds have scored 81 runs. 

“We are seeing the ball well and hitting gaps,” catcher Breylin Goebel said. “The whole team is hitting — not just the top of the order but the bottom as well. That’s what’s given us our runs.”

Half of the battle has been in pitch selection. Darlington batters have been more patient at the plate, drawn more walks and swung at their perfect pitch. The Iowa-Grant pitching staff gave five extra free bases in Tuesday’s contest. 

“We are waiting for our pitch and spot,” pitcher Gage Banfield said. “We are talking our walks and getting deep in counts.”

After a seven-batter first inning, Darlington went to work soaking up pitches. Tye Crist and Maddox Goebel led off the inning with back-to-back singles. The Redbirds were unable to score in the frame, though.

Everett Zimmer looked to spark a two-out rally for the Panthers in the top of the second, but he was picked off by Banfield. Darlington executed the pickle play, as Carson Mosley tagged Zimmer out to end the inning.

Defense transitioned to offense, as the Redbirds scored seven runs in the bottom half of the frame. Banfield drew a four-pitch walk and, after a flyout, Mosley drove him in with a single to center. Riggs Black singled to the left side and Talan Crist walked to load the bases.

Tye Crist and Maddox Goebel then hit back-to-back RBI singles to take a 3-1 lead. With two outs, Reagan Jackson and Banfield drove in two runs each with doubles. Banfield’s hit nearly left the yard, smacking off the fence in right.

The Redbird defense turned in another gem in the third. After leadoff batter Will Fulton reached on a dropped third strike, Gavin Hinderman hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Banfield then got Brach Holman to pop up to end the inning.

“It’s big,” Banfield said of the defensive plays behind him. “Errors kill you. When you made the plays and don’t give teams extra outs, you are going to be on the better side of the game.”

In the top of the fourth, Banfield fielded his position by getting all three outs. He popped off the mound to grab the first two outs and toss them to first baseman Cannon Lancaster and struck the last batter out.

Tye Crist led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to the left side. After a flyout, Breylin Goebel launched a two-run home run over the left-field fence to put Darlington up 9-1.

The Redbirds enforced the 10-run rule in the fifth, as Mosley led off the inning with a walk. Darlington then hit four straight singles, culminating in Breylin Goebel’s RBI single up the middle.

After starting the game 0-for-2, Breylin Goebel finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. 

“In baseball, you have to have a mind like a goldfish. I’ve heard that,” Breylin Goebel said. “You have to go to the next pitch, the next AB and do as good as you can.”

Every batter in the lineup recorded a hit, led by Tye Crist who went 3-for-3 with three runs scored at the leadoff spot. Banfield picked up the win on the bump, giving up four hits in four innings. He struck out five and walked one. 

“Hitting has not been a problem for us this year,” Darlington head coach Brad Solberg said. “The big thing is our pitching has gotten better. We are better at the catching position, and that has made games flow better.” 

With just four games left in the season, Darlington is coming together at the right time. After losing their No. 2 pitcher and .400 hitter Cadyn Burbach and starting right fielder James Ackley to injury, the Redbirds’ replacements are filling their roles.

“We’ve had a ton of injuries this year, and we’ve had guys step in,” Solberg said. “Now, it’s about our No. 7, 8 and 9 hitters. They did a nice job tonight, but it’s time for them to take the next step up. Once we get all nine guys hitting, we will be clicking.”

Darlington has two challenges ahead in conference, as the Redbirds (5-5 SWAL) have yet to play Mineral Point (7-4) and conference-leading Cuba City (10-1).