Undefeated Geneva sweeps 2

Geneva discovered an unconventional route in their impressive baseball doubleheader sweep on Thursday.

After defeating West Chicago 4-2 in a morning road game, the Vikings returned home in the afternoon to face Larkin in a nonconference showdown.

Jerrod Campbell delivered the telling blow for Geneva (4-0) - a second-inning bases-loaded double that drove in 3 runs and powered the Vikings' 11-5 victory.

"I was just looking for a pitch to hit and find the gap," said Campbell.

His drive to the right-center field scored Cory Hofstetter, Keith Reilly and Trevor Hyslop.

"I was looking for a certain pitch (fastball)."

Campbell's blast was the Vikings' lone extra base hit and it capped a 5-run inning that staked Geneva to a 7-1 lead after two innings.

Larkin had a similar scenario play out in the top of the third, but its bases loaded setup met a much different fate. Craig Wenzel narrowed the Royals' deficit to 7-3 with a 2-run single, and Larkin had the bases loaded with just one out.

But Geneva pitcher Alex Sroka induced a sharp come backer to the mound. Sroka fielded the ball cleanly and fired home for a second out and catcher Asa Bielenberg recorded the double play with a strike to Eric Renner.

"I pride myself on my defense," said Sroka. "It was definitely important to get out of inning and limit the damage."

In his first start of the year, Sroka pitched four innings, surrendered 2 earned runs and 3 hits, struck out two and walked three. He also delivered at the plate, going 3-4.

"A base hit there and it's a whole different game," said Geneva coach Matt Hahn. "They had a nice inning going and it took the wind out of their sails."

Larkin (3-4) came no closer the rest of the way. The Vikings put the game away with 3 runs in the fourth inning for a 10-3 lead. Sroka led off with a single and Geneva took advantage of a flurry of Larkin wild pitches and walks to seize the commanding advantage.

Larkin received most of its production from the top its order. Justin Kalusa had 2 bunt hits, including one he stretched into a double.

In scoring double-digit runs for the third time in four games, Geneva pounded 11 hits off three different Larkin pitchers. Reliever John Hanson pitched the final inning for the Vikings.