Clinton used steady pitching and solid defense to take down Lincoln 4-1 in a non-conference high school baseball matchup from Lincoln High School on Friday afternoon.

Lincoln's Colby Glenn and Clinton's Brock Wilson went toe-to-toe over five innings. Glenn permitted two runs, one was earned, on two hits and with two walks and seven strikeouts across six innings.

Wilson went five innings allowing an unearned run on four hits with three walks and a strikeout. 

Preston Curtis closed out the win for the Maroons with two scoreless innings of relief. The sophomore struck out two, walked three, and allowed a hit.

Brooks Cluver paced Clinton offensively finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Ryne Pine drove in the other Clinton run and Mason Walker collected two hits finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored. 

No Lincoln hitters recorded an RBI. Glenn was 2-for-4 with a double. Drew Hayes was 1-for-3 with a run scored and stole a base. Trey Schilling stole a base for the Railsplitters.

Lincoln had a seven-game winning streak snapped to fall to 15-8 overall. They will host Rantoul on Monday. 

Clinton goes to 18-8 overall. They will host Warrensburg-Latham on Monday.

Rantoul used a five-run fourth inning to pull ahead and then rebounded when Clinton tied the game 9-9 in the top of the fifth inning to take home an 11-9 win in non-conference high school softball action Friday in Rantoul.

Clinton led 7-0 after they hit in the top of the second inning but Rantoul scored the next nine runs to go up 9-7. Clinton answered with two runs in the fifth inning to tie the game but the Lady Eagles got a run back in the fifth and sixth innings and held on the rest of the way.

Despite a big offensive output, Clinton did not record an extra-base hit. Heidi Humble was 2-for-5 with two RBIs, two stolen bases, and two runs scored. Avery Smith was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Ashley Armstrong finished 2-for-4 with a run batted in and Hadley Humble drove in a run and stole two bases for the Lady Maroons.

Analise Thompson and Ariana Humes also had RBIs.

Clinton drops to 9-13 overall. They will host Champaign Centennial on Monday.

Monticello used a balanced offensive attack to take down Mahomet-Seymour 6-4 in non-conference high school baseball action from Monticello Friday afternoon.

Ike Young struck out five in six innings of two-run ball. One run was earned. The junior walked one and permitted five hits. Brody Beilledo tossed a scoreless inning of relief to finish off the win.

Young was 1-for-2 with an RBI, a stolen base, and drew a walk. 

Luke Teschke finished 2-for-4 for the only multi-hit effort on the day for the Sages. Matt Swartz doubled in a run while Eli Craft and Raiden Colbert also had RBIs. 

Colton Vance reached base three times on three free passes.

Cam Heinhold had the only RBI for Mahomet-Seymour.

Monticello is 27-2 overall. They will embark on the final week of the regular season by traveling to St. Joseph-Ogden in a makeup game of last week's rainout in Illini Prairie Conference play.

Maroa-Forsyth made quick work of Decatur St. Teresa, rolling to a 17-0 five-inning, run-rule win Friday in Decatur. 

Tate Brandenburg went yard and drove in four runs to pace Maroa-Forsyth's offense. The senior was 2-for-5 with four RBIs and a run scored. Connor Kelly was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored for the Trojans. 

Ace Giles finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Kaiden Maurer was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Rose finished four shutout innings on the mound allowing two hits and struck out six. Maurer struck out two in a perfect inning of relief.

Maroa-Forsyth is 19-4 overall. They will travel to Clinton on Tuesday.

Owen Cavanaugh brought home two runs completing a come-from-behind win in the bottom of the 8th inning for Normal Community as they took down Bloomington High 11-10 Friday afternoon in Big 12 high school baseball from Normal Community High School.

Carter Jackson hit a home run to cap a five-run eighth inning that looked like it put the Purple Raiders in the driver's seat.

Drew Stevens brought in three runs with a double in the inning and Cavanaugh finished the game with his walk-off two-run single.

Cavanaugh finished 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs, and scored two runs. Anthony Gura finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored.

Kaileb Hackman was a homer shy of the cycle finishing 4-for-4 with a double, a triple, an RBI, and scored three runs.

Ryan Thiele doubled for the Ironmen.

Ethan Eberle struck out 13 in 6 2/3 innings. The Louisville commit surrendered five runs, four were earned, walking two and permitting six hits.

Jackson paced Bloomington High going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and scored a run. Miggy Espindola doubled for the Purple Raiders. Tyler Dowding and Zach Spidle had two RBIs apiece.

Bloomington is 14-10 overall and 9-6 in the Big 12. They host Washington for a double dip on Saturday before hosting Normal Community again on Monday. 

Normal Community is 25-3 overall and 13-0 in the Big 12. They take on Andrew (Tinley Park) on Saturday for a doubleheader before traveling to Bloomington High on Monday.

Argenta-Oreana blanked Clinton 2-0 in a pitcher's duel Wednesday afternoon in non-conference high school baseball action from Argenta.

Dylan Ragsdale fired 5 1/3 scoreless innings permitting three hits, four walks, and struck out eight.

Jack Manning went six innings allowing two unearned runs on five hits with two walks. 

A run-scoring single and a run-scoring double play were the only runs manufactured by the Bombers on Wednesday and both came in the first two innings.

Mason Walker was 1-for-1 with two walks, Ryne Pine and Jack Manning had the other two hits for Clinton. Brooks Cluver and Pine drew walks on Wednesday.

The Maroons drop to 17-8 overall. They travel to Lincoln on Friday.

Clinton drew the fifth seed in its Regional and will Class 2A postseason play in the Monticello Regional taking on fourth-seeded Tri-Valley on Thursday, May 16 at 4:30 pm.

Ike Young and Luke Teschke hit home runs backing three pitchers who tossed a three-hit shutout as Monticello blanked Tuscola 10-0 in a run-rule, five-inning win Wednesday in non-conference high school baseball action from the Wilkey Complext in Monticello.

Young and Teschke hit two-run home runs in a five-run first inning, setting the tone early for the Sages.

Jacob Long had an RBI single in the frame.

Koyie Williams added an RBI on a ground out in the second and Raiden Colbert singled in a run in the third.

Carter Foran struck out four in three scoreless innings. Jacob Long struck out two and Raiden Colbert struck out the side as each fired an inning of relief.

Teschke was 2-for-2 adding a double and scored another run. Colbert was 1-for-2 with a double and run scored. Dylan Brown tripled and scored a run for the Sages.

Monticello is 25-2 overall. They host Rantoul this afternoon. 

The Sages drew the top seed in its Sectional and will take on the winner of Warrensburg-Latham and Olympia in Regional semifinal action on Wednesday, May 15 in Monticello. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Monticello capitalized on Maroa-Forsyth mistakes and came away with a 9-3 win Wednesday in non-conference high school softball action from the Wilkey Complex in Monticello. 

An error and two wild pitches allowed the Sages to scratch a run across in the first inning on a ground out. 

Monticello broke the game open in the third inning with a five-run inning to go up 6-0. It was highlighted by a two-run single from Reese Patton.

Maroa-Forsyth would get three runs on the board in the fifth inning. After breezing through the first four innings, Lady Sages sophomore hurler Cassidee Stoeffel walked two straight to start the inning then after a ground out, walked the next batter. 

With the bases loaded and one out, Aubrey Stewart doubled in two. Then Danni Hovey singled in a run. 

Monticello got those three runs back in its half of the fifth highlighted by an Isa Beery double and a two-run single from Lynnsee Trybom. Patton added an RBI groundout.

Despite some struggles late, Stoeffel finished the game allowing three runs in seven innings. She walked four, allowed five hits, and struck out three. 

Thea Key and Beery were 2-for-3 with doubles, and two runs scored. Patton was 1-for-2 with three RBIs.

Patton earned the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game.

Maroa-Forsyth falls to 9-8 overall while Monticello moves to 15-12. The Lady Sages host Rantoul this afternoon. 

Maroa-Forsyth is the seventh seed in its Sectional. They will begin postseason play by taking on Bloomington Central Catholic on Monday, May 13. The winner takes on Meridian from the Normal U-High Regional.

Monticello is the fifth seed in its Sectional and will open Regional play by taking on Tolono Unity from the St. Joseph-Ogden Regional starting Wednesday, May 15. 

A run-scoring error allowed Arcola to take down Blue Ridge 3-2 Wednesday in Lincoln Prairie Conference high school softball action in Arcola. 

Ellie Schlieper allowed three unearned runs for Blue Ridge. She permitted three hits, four walks, and struck out five. 

Kacie Sisk struck out 13 across seven innings of two-run ball for the Lady Purple Raiders. 

Schlieper added an RBI at the play for Blue Ridge. Karlee Fenton drove in the other run for the Lady Knights. She also stole a base. 

Cassie Zimmerman was 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored for Blue Ridge. Addison Roos had two stolen bases. 

Blue Ridge is 7-13 overall and 1-6 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference. They are off until next Wednesday when they travel to Bethany-Okaw Valley for more Lincoln Prairie action. 

Blue Ridge drew the eighth seed in its Sectional and will open postseason play by hosting Decatur St. Teresa on Monday, May 13 in Farmer City in Regional quarterfinal action.

A five-run fifth inning helped Maroa-Forsyth get by Tri-Valley 8-6 in non-conference high school baseball action from Forsyth Wednesday.

The five-run fifth inning answered a five-run fourth inning by Tri-Valley, helping the Trojans go up 8-6 after trailing 6-3 going to the bottom of the fifth.

Connor Kelly was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Trojans offense. Andy Munjoy was 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Zayn Giles went 2-for-4 with an RBI while Mitch Williams and Ace Giles added RBIs for Maroa-Forsyth.

The Trojans improve to 18-3 overall. They host Mt. Zion this afternoon.

Maroa-Forsyth drew the third seed in its Sectional and will take on the winner of Bloomington Central Catholic and Prairie Central to open Regional action Wednesday, May 15 from Bloomington Central Catholic. 

Mt. Pulaski used a pair of four-run frames to roll Athens 10-0 in Tomahawk Conference high school baseball action Wednesday in Mt. Pulaski. 

Landon Smith paced the Hilltoppers going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Colt Selinger drove in three runs while Liam Smith finished 2-for-3 with a double.

Aaron Volle was 1-for-3 with two RBIs while Tyler Cross also drove in a run for the Hilltoppers. 

Luke Martin struck out 11 across six innings of shutout ball. He permitted five hits and two walks.

The Hilltoppers go to 20-1 overall and 2-0 in the Tomahawk Conference. They are at Illini Bluffs this afternoon. 

Mt. Pulaski is the top seed in its Sectional. They open postseason play by taking on the winner of a Regional quarterfinal matchup between Decatur Unity Christian and Cerro Gordo-Bement on Wednesday, May 15 from the Decatur St. Teresa Regional. 

Normal U-High scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning and rallied past Normal Community 6-4 in non-conference high school baseball action from Normal on Wednesday.

Charlie Vercruysse hit a solo shot to start the scoring for the Pioneers in the seventh. A two-run error and then a Will Paxson RBI single was the extent of the damage for U-High. 

Vercruysse, a Notre Dame commit, was a triple short of the cycle going 3-for-4 with a a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Max Willie, Lawson Shickel, and Paxson added RBIs for U-High. Max Heineman was 2-for-4. 

Ryan Theile was 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead Normal Community. Kyle Beaty was 2-for-3 with a double and run scored and Owen Cavanaugh finished 1-for-3 with a double.

Normal U-High 20-6 overall. They will travel to Decatur MacArthur this afternoon. The Pioneers are the second seed in its Sectional. They will meet the winner of Tremont and Dee-Mack to start Regional play on Wednesday, May 15 from the Bloomington Central Catholic Regional.

Normal Community is 24-3 overall. They will host Bloomington High on Friday. 

Alex Olson singled in Blake Crancer giving Normal West a thrilling, walk-off win 4-3 over Peoria Notre Dame Wednesday in Big 12 high school baseball action in Normal.

Peoria Notre Dame jumped out to a 3-0 in the top of the first inning but Normal West chipped away after that. Crancer tripled in two runs in the fifth inning. Jaxson Crancer doubled in Brady Hart in the sixth inning after the Wildcats played a little small ball to move Hart into scoring position.

Sam Beirne went six innings allowing three runs on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Taylor Hafermann picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief for Normal West. 

Blake Crancer finished 1-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs, a stolen base, and a run scored. Sam DesCarpentrie was 1-for-3 for Normal West.

Normal West is 14-11 overall and 9-5 in Big 12 action. They will host Peoria Richwoods Friday afternoon in more Big 12 action.

Illinois State fell 11-1 to Western Illinois on Wednesday at Duffy Bass Field in seven innings.

The Leathernecks (11-30 overall) scored six early runs in the first two innings and never surrendered the lead.

Illinois State (21-22 overall) saw sophomore Luke Lawrence finish 2-for-4 as he would be the lone Redbird with multiple hits. Lawrence's on-base streak moves to 29 games, the longest by a Redbird this season.

Illinois State is scheduled to host Southern Illinois at Duffy Bass Field in a three-game series starting Friday.

Mason Walker struck out 15 across six scoreless innings and Clinton beat Central A&M 4-0 in Central Illinois Conference high school baseball action from Moweaqua Tuesday.

Walker allowed two hits and walked three. The senior was backed by an RBI double from Brooks Cluver. Colton Walker and Jack Manning drove in runs as well for the Maroons.

Ryne Pine and Aiden Toohill added hits. 

Clinton goes to 17-7 overall and 7-2 in the Central Illinois Conference. They travel to Argenta-Oreana today (Wednesday).

The Maroons also learned Tuesday they will be in the fifth seed in its subsectional as a part of the Millikin Sectional. Postseason seedings come out today.

Gwyn Hardimon allowed two unearned runs and Central A&M took down Clinton 13-2 in a run-rule, five-inning win Tuesday in Central Illinois Conference high school softball action from Moweaqua.

Hardimon struck out eight, walked three, and permitted three hits.

Brooke Reeves was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored to lead Clinton. Heidi Humble drove in a run and walked twice. Aliviyah Haynes finished 1-for-2.

Clinton drops to 9-12 overall and 3-6 in the Central Illinois Conference. They are at Argenta-Oreana this afternoon.

Marrissa Miller and Isa Beery drove in two runs apiece to back a complete game effort by Reese Patton and Monticello beat Sullivan 7-1 in non-conference high school softball action from Monticello Tuesday.

Beery drove in two runs on a triple finishing 1-for-3 with a run scored. Miller was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a stolen base, and a scored a run. 

Patton went seven brilliant innings allowing an unearned run. The senior struck out two, walked one and permitted five hits. 

Sadie Walsh was 2-for-3 with a double and scored a run at the top of the order while Thea Key was 1-for-3 with an RBI, a stolen base, and scored twice.

Cassidee Stoeffel had two hits for Monticello. Lynsee Trybom added a base hit. 

Monticello goes to 14-12 overall. They host Maroa-Forsyth this afternoon. Hear today's action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

Tate Brandenburg's two-run double broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the seventh inning propelling Maroa-Forsyth past Riverton in a thrilling 8-5 Sangamo Conference high school baseball game Tuesday in Riverton.

The Hawks used a two-run inning in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game up. The Hawks rallied to a tie twice but could never take the lead. 

Brandenburg's double was followed by a Zayn Giles RBI single and Kaiden Maurer finished off the win in the bottom half of the inning for Maroa-Forsyth. 

Brandenburg's seventh-inning double was his second of the game. The senior finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and scored twice. 

Giles was 3-for-4 with an RBI while Mitch Williams and Maurer had two hits apice, including a double apiece and each scored two runs. 

Connor Kelly drove in two runs for the Trojans.

Maurer struck out four, and allowed a run on two hits in an 1 2/3 of relief for the win.

Maroa-Forsyth jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Riverton answered with three runs in the bottom of the second but the Trojans went right back on top in the top of the third with two more runs.

The score remained 5-3 until Riverton tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Maroa-Forsyth is 17-3 overall. They are 6-2 in the Sangamo. They host Tri-Valley this afternoon.

Lincoln easily dispatched Decatur Eisenhower 15-0 in a run-rule, five-inning win Tuesday in Central State Eight Conference high school baseball action in Lincoln.

Jarrett Evers led the way for the Railsplitters going 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs, two stolen bases, and two runs scored. Colby Glenn was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, a stolen base and scored two runs.

Trey Schilling doubled and scored a run while Michael Lucas, Brendan Wurth, Wes Tedrick, and Karson Komnick drove in runs.

Werth stole three bases. Tedrick, Lucas, and Komnick had stolen bases as well.

Dyllan Ferguson struck out six in four scoreless innings of one-hit ball. 

Lincoln is 13-7 overall and 4-3 in the Central State Eight. They will travel to New Berlin this afternoon.

Illinois baseball (26-15) got back into the win column with an emphatic 21-11 run-rule victory, in seven innings, over No. 24 Indiana State (31-10) at Illinois Field Tuesday.

Ryan Moerman went 4-for-5 at the plate with three home runs and nine RBI. Cal Hejza also had a multi-home run performance, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI. 

Connor Milton delivered the walk-off win with a solo blast to center to cap a 2-for-3 a double, home run, one RBI and two walk performance. 

The Illini slugged a total of seven home runs in the ballgame, their fifth game of the season with at least five round-trippers.

Jake Swartz picked up the victory out of the bullpen to improve to 2-2 on the season. The right-hander went 3.0 innings, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out two. Korey Bunselmeyer turned in a scoreless seventh inning, retiring all three batters on groundouts.

Coltin Quagliano went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and a walk - extended his career-best hitting streak to 20 games. Camden Janik went 2-for-3 with 2-for-3 with four runs and two walks. 

Illinois Hosts Ohio State this weekend. 

Iowa beat Illinois State 8-7 on Tuesday at Duane Banks Field, thanks to a late-inning comeback for the Hawkeyes with six runs across the 6th and 7th innings.

Illinois State (21-21 overall) was led by sophomore Daniel Pacella, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Iowa improves to 25-17 overall including 17-3 at home this season.

Trailing 2-0, Illinois State scored the game's next five runs with three in the 3rd inning, one in the 5th, and one in the 6th. Two of the five runs for the Redbirds came off an RBI single by Pacella in the 3rd inning.

The Redbirds would rally late as senior Auggie Rasmussen sent out his 10th home run of 2024 in the top of the 9th to make it an 8-7 game, but it would not be enough for the win.

Illinois State is scheduled to host Western Illinois at Duffy Bass Field on Wednesday.

In a game heard on WHOW, Max Kepler drove in the tiebreaking run in the ninth inning for the second straight game, this time with a sacrifice fly, and the Minnesota Twins won their ninth in a row, 6-5 over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

The Twins extended their longest win streak since a 10-game run in June 2008. They also won their seventh in a row against the White Sox and put themselves in position to sweep Chicago again after taking four games at Target Field last week, though this one certainly wasn’t easy.

Chicago’s Andrew Benintendi homered leading off the eighth to tie it at 5 after Minnesota scored twice in the top half. But the Twins pulled it out in the ninth.

Danny Mendick gave Chicago a 4-2 lead with a two-run homer against reliever Kody Funderburk in the fifth inning.

Benintendi tied it when he led off against Cole Sands with his third homer. Mendick doubled, but Robbie Grossman struck out. Thielbar then retired Korey Lee on a pop fly and Nicky Lopez on a grounder.

The White Sox are a major league-worst 6-24 overall and 2-17 against the AL Central.

Chicago had 12 hits but was 2 for 11 with men in scoring position. The White Sox stranded nine runners.

Soroka gave up two runs and three hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander has a 6.48 ERA through seven starts.

The three-game series wraps up with RHP Bailey Ober (2-1, 4.21 ERA) pitching for Minnesota and RHP Chris Flexen (1-3, 5.11) getting the ball for Chicago. Ober has a 1.48 ERA in four starts since getting pounded in a loss at Kansas City on March 31. Flexen threw five scoreless innings in a win over Tampa Bay last week.

311 schools have teams entered in this year's IHSA bass fishing state tournament series. There are 25 sectionals around the state this Thursday with anglers trying to get to the state finals later this month at Carlyle Lake says the IHSA's Kurt Gibson.

This marks the 15th year for the IHSA State Tournament Series in Bass Fishing.

 Jack Flaherty tied an American League record with seven straight strikeouts to open a game and struck out a career-high 14 before the St. Louis Cardinals rallied against a usually reliable bullpen with a two-run ninth inning to beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 in a doubleheader opener Tuesday.

Pitching against his first big league team, Flaherty kept the Cardinals off balance and flailing at four-seam fastballs and knuckle-curveballs.

Riley Green hit a fourth-inning home run off Kyle Gibson.

Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt and Alec Burleson had one-out singles in the ninth, with Burleson's driving in the tying run off Shelby Miller (3-3). Pedro Pages followed with a go-ahead sacrifice fly.

Matthew Liberatore (1-1) struck out two in a 1-2-3 eighth, and Ryan Helsley fanned two in a perfect ninth for his 10th save in as many chances.

Gibson, though, made the comeback possible by holding Detroit to one run on four hits over seven innings.

Wenceel Pérez hit homers from both sides of the plate, including a tiebreaking blast in the fifth inning, to help the Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-6 Tuesday night to split a doubleheader.

The Tigers went ahead again in the second game and pulled away with a four-run seventh.

Perez hit a right-handed, opposite-field solo shot in the second inning off Steven Matz and a left-handed, two-run homer against Ryan Fernandez to put Detroit ahead 7-5.

The 24-year-old Dominican became the first rookie to clear the fences for the franchise hitting right and left-handed in the same game since Raúl Casanova in 1996, and the first Tiger with any level of experience to do it since Victor Martinez in 2018.

Perez hit a homer for the first time in the majors on Sunday in his 16th game.

Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas (2-3, 5.91 ERA) and Tigers RHP Kenta Maeda (0-1, 5.96) are scheduled to pitch in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.

DJ Stewart hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth inning Tuesday night, lifting the New York Mets to a 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Stewart had just three hits in his previous 23 at-bats before sending a no-doubt drive into the second deck in right field against Adbert Alzolay (1-3) to give New York a 4-1 lead.

With the arrival of designated hitter J.D. Martinez last week and the return Tuesday of right fielder Starling Marte from the bereavement list, Stewart's roster spot could have been in jeopardy. But the Mets hung onto the left-handed batter, and he certainly delivered against the Cubs.

All three runs against Alzolay were unearned due to a throwing error by Gold Glove shortstop Dansby Swanson. First baseman Patrick Wisdom also made a throwing error in the first, leading to Pete Alonso’s sacrifice fly.

Sean Reid-Foley (1-0) tossed a hitless sixth. Jorge López earned his second save after giving up a run in the ninth, when Mike Tauchman doubled and scored on a groundout by pinch-hitter Matt Mervis.

Miguel Amaya had a sacrifice fly for the Cubs in the second.

Chicago starter Javier Assad and Mets counterpart Sean Manaea each allowed one run in five innings. The teams were hitless in six plate appearances with runners in scoring position against the starters.

Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (4-0, 0.98 ERA) looks to continue the historic start to his career Wednesday night, when he opposes Mets RHP José Buttó (0-1, 2.86) in the third game of the four-game series. Imanaga is the first pitcher since 1901 to open his career 4-0 with a sub-1.00 ERA and at least 28 strikeouts in his first five starts.