Seventh-inning comeback derails VCC

A two-out rally spoiled the Vermilion Ironmen‘s first trip outside this spring.Iowa Central’s junior varsity scored three times in the bottom of the seventh and pulled out a 5-4 community college baseball victory March 26 at Fort Dodge, Iowa.The Ironmen also dropped a 10-0 decision to Minnesota rival Ridgewater in the second half of the doubleheader.Vermilion, which opened the season earlier in the month with a pair of losses at the Metrodome, fell to 0-4 on the season.But the Ironmen nearly picked up their first win against Iowa Central, thanks to a strong effort on the mound from freshman lefthander Shawn Gageby.The Andover native took a 4-2 lead into the seventh, and went six and two-thirds inning, giving up five hits and two earned runs, with four strikeouts.Iowa Central got to Gageby late.With two outs and a runner on first, a walk put the tying run on base. That’s when Zach Etter greeted reliever Tony Niles with a two-run double that tied the game. The hosts followed with a game-winning single.Trailing 2-0, VCC tied the game in the fifth on a two-run double by Ely freshman Tony Carlson.The Ironmen broke the tie in the sixth, as Steve Carlisle knocked in the go-ahead run and sophomore Joel Dostert of Soudan followed with a run-scoring hit.No Vermilion player had more than one hit.In the second game, Ridgewater jumped on Niles and relievers Chris Haken and Zach Lund, ending the contest in five innings.Vermilion was held without a hit.The Ironmen went to Brainerd over the weekend for a doubleheader against Central Lakes, and they’re back on the road Friday for four games at Rochester. Northern Division play begins next week, weather permitting.