The Keokuk pitching staff was at its best on Monday as the Chiefs beat the Demons twice in a Southeast Conference baseball matchup.

Baseball is a funny game. Despite the Demons holding the best batting average in the league and the Chiefs with one of the highest ERA, the games played out as the exact opposite. In game one, the Chiefs edged out the Demons in a pitcher’s dual 2-0. It wasn’t until the sixth inning where a team was able to push a run across and it was the Chiefs that scored twice thanks to three hits, including an RBI triple by Jake Jones. That was all Chiefs’ pitcher Dylon Hoewing needed as he went six strong innings of scoreless ball. Jacob Hall was spectacular for the Demons on the bump, despite being credited for the loss. He went six innings with five strikeouts, giving up the lone two runs. Zach Londberg was the one bright spot offensively as he went 2-for-2 with a walk.

In game two, it was much of the same as the Demons were blanked again falling 5-0. The Chiefs jumped on the Demons early, scoring four in the second inning and one in the third, in part by three hits and a couple Demon errors. Ethan Blaise and Andrew Patterson mowed down the Demon hitters, combining for seven innings of work of only giving up two hits. Londberg and Aaron Vittetoe had the lone hits for the Demons.

With the loss, the Demons fall to 7-4 as the Chiefs improve to 4-7. The Demons will try to rebound on Thursday as they host Mount Pleasant for a doubleheader in another big conference showdown.