DES MOINES - It was a day to remember for Bennett Mann.
The Marshalltown senior hit four triples and drove in four runs over two games while pitching a no-hitter in the nightcap of the Bobcats' doubleheader sweep of Des Moines Hoover on Friday night in cross-CIML baseball play.
Mann struck out three and walked two without surrendering a hit to Hoover in MHS' 11-0 six-inning victory in game two. The Bobcats (16-20) won the opener 7-2.
The left-hander finished the day 4-for-6 at the plate with all four hits going for three bases.
Austin Sowers went 5 1/3 innings in the opener to pick up the victory. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out four and walking none. Blake Judkins pitched a hitless final 1 2/3 innings to close out the victory.
"Austin and Bennett did a good job getting ahead and changing speeds which kept (Hoover's) hitters off-balance and our defense alert," said MHS head coach Steve Hanson.
Alex Thompson and Ryan Mitchell both had two RBIs apiece in game one while Paul Fienup, Tyler Moranville, Mitchell and Mann all had two hits.
Judkins and Mann both drove in three runs in the nightcap while Thompson added another pair of hits. Mitchell, Judkins and Kyle Carnahan all scored three runs.
"Over the course of the night our guys were able to figure things out and eventually did some really good things on the bases and at the plate," noted Hanson.
The win stops a five-game slide for MHS.
"A seven-game week in these weather conditions can take a toll on everyone," said Hanson, referencing the heat wave hitting central Iowa, "but our guys hung in there and played hard every night. That gives us some momentum heading into next week."
The Bobcats return home Monday for Senior Night against Ottumwa in a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m.
MHS will then play its regular-season finale against Class 4A's top-ranked team, Ankeny, on the road Tuesday.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced on Friday the site for Marshalltown's postseason opener.
The Bobcats open substate play Friday against Des Moines Roosevelt.
The Roughriders are the higher seed, but the game will be played in Marshalltown at 7 p.m. because Roosevelt does not have lights at their field.
The two teams met earlier this year in a doubleheader at MHS. They split, with Marshalltown claiming a 10-4 victory and Roosevelt an 8-1 triumph on June 8.