Iola High’s junior varsity baseball split a pair of slugfests Thursday.
The Mustangs fended off visiting Independence, 12-10, in the opener, but could not stop the Bulldog comeback in the nightcap, losing 9-8.
Kohl Endicott picked up the win in the first game. He gave up four hits and three walks in four innings, while striking out four. Coleson Wiggin earned the save. He gave up two hits with a strikeout in one inning of work.
Wiggin also paced the Mustang offense with a single and double. Brice Aiello had two singles. Garrett Waded doubled. Ben Cooper, Jake Gumfory and Endicott each had a single.
Iola led 4-1 and 6-3, but gave up six runs in the top of the fifth. The Mustangs rallied for two in the bottom half, but could get no closer.
Aiello was saddled with the loss. he gave up a hit and three walks in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one. Brock Peters got the start. He gave up four hits and eight walks in four innings with three strikeouts. Wiggin gave up one hit in a third of an inning.
Peters slugged a double and home run. Buddy Ware and Gumfory both had two singles.
