Josh McDevitt and Brayden Pals turned in back-to-back shutout performances Saturday, helping the Effingham Hearts post an Apollo Conference doubleheader sweep at home over Mattoon.
McDevitt opened the twin-bill with an 89-pitch, six-inning, two-hit effort, as the Hearts beat the Green Wave 10-0.
It was Pals’ turn in the nightcap, as the senior righthander blanked Mattoon on three hits, while his teammates provided plenty of support in an 8-0 victory.
In the opener, McDevitt allowed only singes in the first and second innings, while walking one and striking out 12. At the plate, Gauge Massey went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs and Joe Matterson added a pair of hits and had a pair of RBI.
Massey had his first two-run single in the second, staking the Hearts to the early lead. They added two more runs in the third and then broke the game open with a four-run fifth.
In that fifth, Myles Maxedon had a one-out single, followed by walks to Matteson and Evan Waymoth to load the bases. Kaiden Nichols then walked to force in a run, Massey delivered another two-run base hit and John Harper capped the inning with sacrifice fly.
Effingham added its final two runs in the sixth to end the game.
In the second game, Pals went seven innings and threw 108 pitches. He allowed just three hits – singles in the first, third and fifth innings – while walking one and striking out 14.
The Hearts took control early, pushing seven runs across the plate in the first inning. Nichols was hit by a pitch, Massey walked and Harper singled to drive in the first run. Camden Raddatz followed with an RBI single and the third run scored on an error.
Quest Hull and Maxedon walked to load the bases and Matterson drove in all three runners with a triple. Nichols capped the inning with an RBI single. Matteson, who drove in four runs in the game, had a run-scoring double in the second.
The Hearts improved to 7-6 overall and 3-3 in the Apollo Conference. They will return to action Tuesday at Neoga.