The Heartland baseball squad returned to the Corn Crib Sunday for a doubleheader against visiting Illinois Valley Community College, defeating the Eagles 20-0 and 12-0 to improve to 3-0 on the young season. The Hawks collected 26 hits on the afternoon, while allowing just 5 hits on the defensive end.
 
Game 1
It was an offensive explosion for Heartland in the opening game of Sunday's twin bill, as the Hawks scored in all four innings that they reached the plate in the contest. Sam Antonacci started things off in the opening inning, as he laced a single to right-center to drive in TJ Williams to get the Hawks on the board. A triple by Matt Santerelli would drive in Antonacci. Moments later, Corey Boyette delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
A second-inning 10-run outburst ignited Heartland to a 13-0 advantage. Eight different Hawks contributed hits in the frame, as they added two more tallies in the third inning and five more in the fourth in the rout. Heartland received multi-hit games from six players, with Antonacci (2-2, 2 BB, 2 R, 5 RBI) and Boyette (3-3, 1 BB, 3 R, 1 RBI) leading the charge.
 
Missouri commit Isaiah Jackson (1-0) got the start for the Hawks, shutting down IVCC with 6 strikeouts in 4 innings pitched, while yielding just 1 hit and walking 2. Drew Martin pitched the final inning, finishing with two strikeouts while not allowing a baserunner.
 
Game 2
The second game was much of the same recipe for the Hawks, as both sides of the ball were clicking on all cylinders in the victory. Southpaw Luke Wright (1-0) started on the bump, finishing with 7 punch outs in 4 innings pitched, while allowing 3 hits.
 
After a scoreless opening frame, an Aidan McNamee single ignited a 4-run second inning for the Hawks. Antonacci and Boyette also supplied hits for Heartland in the inning. Boyette and McNamee both knocked in two base hits for the Hawks in the contest.
 
After adding two more runs to the tally in the third, a 6-run fourth inning put the game out of reach. Drew Martin closed the door in the fifth, with 2 strikeouts of his own to secure the win for the Hawks.
 
Heartland will return to the Corn Crib at 2 pm Friday against Harper College.