MUNSTER | It's common knowledge that when you give the No. 1 team in the state a free pass or two, it might come back to bite you on the behind.
That's what happened to Munster as it gave up two lead-off walks, which eventually led to two runs in Lake Central's 7-0 opening-round win in the Munster Sectional during the first game Friday evening.
The second game was all Lowell (9-19), as it scored at least one run in every inning of the Red Devils' 11-1 drubbing of EC Central (10-18).
The second inning provided the evidence of the age-old theory after LC first baseman Ryan Pachowicz was walked to start the inning, then subsequently plated on a Zach Mantel sacrifice fly after back-to-back singles by Anthony Fushi and Adam Fulk.
The same thing happened in the fifth for the Indians (26-1) when Alec Olund walked then scored, but LC tacked on two more in the back-breaking inning thanks to a couple of RBI-singles from Pachowicz and Fushi.
"We ... had good at-bats all game long," Indian coach Jeff Sandor said. "We've seen everyone's No. 1 or 2 and have done a good job competing."
Indian ace Jimmy McNamara took care of the rest by throwing seven innings of four-hit ball while striking out 12.
The only threat Munster (15-14) had was in the first after catcher Colin Mudroncik doubled, but he was stranded at second.
McNamara thinks the team and himself both have the right approach coming into the tournament.
"Pitching is way more mental than it is physical and I don't think I have the best stuff, but I think I compete better than anyone," the Central Michigan recruit said. "The team came out a little tight at first, but we know we just have to play our game and focus."
In the nightcap, Lowell's Danny DeBoer and Nick Willison combined to allow just three hits while striking out nine over five innings.
Red Devil center fielder Tyler Hamm went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs, while third baseman Austin Magley added four RBIs and a run, including a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.
EC Central's lone run came in the top of the first thanks to first baseman D'Angelo Gonzalez plating Jeremy Zakarias on a sacrifice fly.
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