Why have one ace pitcher when you can have two? That must be the Washington baseball team’s thinking, as Kole Hinrichsen and Chase McDole each threw like aces last night and propelled the Demons to a doubleheader sweep of Fort Madison.

As heard on KCII, in game one the Demons trailed 1-0 for most of the game after an unearned run in the first. Three of the Demons six hits came in the fifth when they scratched across three runs headlined by a RBI single from Cade Hennigan to tie the game and two RBI double from Luke Turner to take a lead they would not relinquish. An added insurance run in the sixth to make it 4-1 was more than enough for Hinrichsen, who three a complete game three-hitter while striking out six and not giving up an earned tally. The senior dropped his season ERA to 0.30 in 23 2/3 innings of work.

To keep pace in the Southeast Conference standings with Fairfield, the Demons needed the sweep and they turned to McDole in game two to provide just that in a 2-1 win.  The senior went six strong giving up one run on no hits and striking out seven Bloodhound batters. Washington struggled for two hits in the nightcap but they turned to small ball with Hennigan having a RBI groundout in the first to take an early 1-0 lead. The Bloodhounds tied it up in the third on an overthrow but the Demons answered in the fourth when Brant Stout scored on a wild pitch. Brady Knutson came into pitch the seventh and was able to pick up the save in part by Stout throwing out a runner trying to steal second for the first out of the frame.

Washington improves to 10-3 overall and 7-3 in league play. First place in the conference is on the line Monday when they travel to face Fairfield.