Galesburg’s offense kept rolling Wednesday night.
Two days after snapping a nine-game losing streak with a 4-0 road win at Alleman, the Silver Streaks made it two in a row by pounding out 15 hits in a 13-4 Western Big 6 victory over the Pioneers at home.
Galesburg answered every early challenge and broke the game open across the middle innings. After Alleman scored in the first, the Silver Streaks responded with three runs in the bottom half.
When the Pioneers briefly moved ahead with a three-run third, Galesburg answered again, scoring two runs in the third, two in the fourth and five in the fifth to take control.
Coach Jerome Pickrel said the difference was a looser, more confident team after getting back in the win column.
“We got the monkey off our back on Monday night,” Pickrel said. “It was good to get back in the win column after, what, a nine- or 10-game losing streak. And then tonight it was just guys playing free and easy.”
Hayden Ralston led the attack, going 3 for 4 with a home run, triple, double, three runs scored and three RBIs. Noah Nalley added two home runs and finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Caleb Claeys went 2 for 3 with a homer and four RBIs.
Henry Ikrami, Nicolas Ojeda and Alfred Ayala had two hits apiece as Galesburg hit four home runs as a team.
Nalley said the offensive surge came from a simpler approach.
“He was kind of sloppy and slow, so I took advantage of it,” Nalley said of Alleman’s pitching. “A lot of us did. We had some pretty good hits today.”
Ralston said confidence has grown over the past two games.
“Once we got that first win, it was kind of like, ‘OK, we can win games,’” he said. “We know what we can do.”
Pickrel said lineup adjustments have helped create better opportunities.
“I’m mixing up the lineup a little bit, moving some guys around in the batting order,” he said. “The last two games we have been able to string together some hits.”
Caden Riley earned the win, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits over six innings with four strikeouts. Nalley pitched a scoreless seventh.
Galesburg improved to 4-13 overall and 2-4 in the Western Big 6. Alleman fell to 7-8 and 2-4.
The Silver Streaks host Washington at 4:30 p.m. April 17 and Geneseo at 4:30 p.m. April 20.
Payton Ruggles drove in three runs, but Sandburg dropped both games of an Arrowhead Conference doubleheader to Black Hawk on April 15 in Galesburg.
Black Hawk won 14-3 in five innings and 20-4 in five innings.
In Game 1, the Chargers scored in the second, third and fourth innings. Ruggles had a sacrifice fly in the second, Hannah Pyle added a two-out RBI single in the third, and Ruggles followed with a run-scoring infield hit in the fourth.
Madalynn Knapp led Sandburg, going 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored. Pyle also went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Jalie Eller took the loss, allowing five walks over five innings.
In Game 2, Sandburg scored three runs in the fourth after five straight batters reached with one out. Ruggles singled home a run, Pyle scored on a misplayed fly ball, and Jaylynn Hamilton added an RBI on a fielder’s choice.
Pyle again led the Chargers, going 2 for 3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
Jordyn Climer took the loss.
Sandburg plays at Illinois Valley at 3 p.m. April 16.
Knox fell 12-3 to Beloit in a Midwest Conference game April 15.
The Prairie Fire (5-24, 3-9) took an early lead when Thomas Wilmot singled home Hayden Derlein in the first inning. Beloit answered with three runs in the bottom half and added runs in four straight innings.
Knox scored twice in the seventh. Andrew Garrett scored on a wild pitch, and Tyler Kemp added an RBI single.
Derlein and Buckie Zamora had two hits each.
Knox hosts Lawrence for doubleheaders April 18 and 19.
Knox dropped both games of a home doubleheader to Eureka, falling 10-2 and 12-4 on April 15.
The Prairie Fire (6-18) led 2-0 in the opener before Eureka scored in each of the next three innings and broke the game open with six runs in the fifth.
In Game 2, Knox took a 1-0 lead in the third on a Taylor Goudschaal RBI single, but Eureka responded with 10 runs in the fourth.
Knox answered with three runs in the inning, highlighted by a Kylie Thomson RBI double and a Victoria Torres RBI single.
Knox hosts Lawrence on April 18 and Harris-Stowe on April 19.
