Allen Community College wrapped up its first series of the 2024 season with a split Friday.
The Red Devils once again emptied their bench — fulfilling head coach Clint Stoy’s desire to get as many players on the diamond as possible to get rid of early-season jitters — while going 1-1 against visiting Pratt.
Allen scored five in the bottom of the first of the opener to win, 7-6.
Pratt took control in the middle innings of game 2 to win, 13-3, to salvage a split of the four-game series.
Allen (2-2) is at home Friday and Saturday to host North Iowa Community College. Games begin at noon both days.
Mees Robberse went deep and drove in three runs in the opener for Allen, while Parker Martin went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Garrett Rusch singled and scored twice. Colton Ayres, Cale Clark, Cade Schupp and Jake Galloway added singles in support of starter Payton Pudenz, who scattered six hits over five innings with six strikeouts. Brodie Gleason pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one hit. Zachary Johnston struck out the final batter of the game to earn the save.
Allen jumped ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the first of the nightcap, but Pratt erupted for four in the top of the third to take the lead. The Beavers tacked on two in the fifth, five in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Anthony Talpa hit a two-run home run for ACC, his second homer of the young series. Jack Harris and Logan Martin added doubles. Kyle Kieweno, Parker Martin, Jake Galloway and Bjarne Reinhartdt all had singles.
Seth Broadwell took the loss, allowing three hits over four innings. Ethan Payne, Nicholas Walter, Elias Muller and Manuel Toro pitched in relief, scattering eight hits over the final three innings with two strikeouts.
