The Neosho County Community College baseball team made quick and easy doing of the Independence Community College Pirates on Thursday afternoon.
The Panthers outscored Independence 29-7 in a pair of run-ruled contests as Neosho County improved to 29-14 overall and 16-10 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.
Neosho County pounded out seven home runs, including four from sophomore outfielder Aaron Dees.
Combined for the two games, Dees went 4-for-7 at the plate to go along with eight RBIs and five runs scored.
In game one, the Panthers scored twice in the top of the first inning and never trailed in the 14-2 victory.
With a 3-2 advantage heading to the third, Neosho County's bats exploded for five runs in the frame.
Sophomore catcher Cooper Minnick jumpstarted the inning with a double.
Sophomore first baseman Tanner Arst backed that up with a two-run blast.
The Panthers added six more in the fourth, including a Dees two-run shot, as well as a three-run home run by sophomore third baseman Will Clark.
Sophomore Nate Crossman and Minnick tallied three hits apiece in the win, while Dees, Arst, Clark and freshman Kaleb De La Torre added two hits each.
NJCAA National Pitcher of the Week McCae Allen earned the win. Over five innings, he struck out two and surrendered five hits.
In game two, Neosho County, and specifically Dees, picked up where they left off in game one in the 15-5 win.
With one out in the inning, Dees homered for the third time on the day.
The Panthers held an 8-0 lead before the Pirates plated their first run, but Neosho County responded with five more runs in the fifth to put the game further out of reach.
Sophomore Alex DuBord picked up the win, striking out six over five innings.
Sophomore Josh Norlin, Dees, Beets and De La Torre collected multiple hits.
Neosho County will host Independence (13-29 and 7-19) on Saturday for the Autism Awareness game at Hudson Field. First pitch is scheduled for
1 pm.