Normal Community split a Saturday doubleheader with Washington, taking game one 5-1 but dropping game 2 5-3 in non-conference high school baseball action in Normal.
Kyle Beaty hit a solo home run to open the scoring in game one in the bottom of the first inning.
In the second, with the score still 1-0, Carter Harris laced a run-scoring triple, plating Gavin Michaels and extending the Ironmen's early lead to 2-0. Normal Community continued to apply pressure in the third, with RBIs from Max Heineman and Drew Stevens pushing their advantage to 4-0.
However, with the bases loaded, an Ironmen error allowed two Washington runners to cross the plate, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Normal Community responded swiftly in the bottom half. With a runner on, Harris again came through with an RBI double, pushing the lead back to three.
Washington threatened again in the fifth when Hayden Hawksworth drove in a run with a single, making it 5-3, but the Ironmen slammed the door, securing the victory.
Harris was 2-for-3 with a crucial triple and a double, driving in two runs. Beaty finished 1-for-3, including a solo home run. Heineman was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Drew Stevens added an RBI, going 2-for-3.
Beaty got the victory with a solid 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs - two earned - and striking out seven.
Washington got the jump on Normal Community in the second game. Caleb Hansen drove in Lukas Virgil with a sharp single, giving the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. Moments later, Anson Zaiser scampered home on a wild pitch, making it 2-0.
An Ironmen miscue allowed Isaac Perez to score, extending Washington's lead to 3-0 in the fourth.
Normal Community got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Lucas Beaty scored on an error, making it 3-1. However, the Panthers put the game out of reach in the fifth when Owen Klein delivered a clutch two-run single.
The Panthers were led by Klein, who was 1-for-2 with two crucial RBIs, while Hansen went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Lucas Beaty led the Ironmen, going 1-for-3 with a double.
With the Saturday split, Normal Community goes to 14-4 overall. They will host Peoria Richwoods in Big 12 Conference action on Monday.
