By Herald staff (Contact) | Austin Daily Herald

Originally published 08:41 p.m., March 18, 2009
Updated 08:41 p.m., March 18, 2009

While the Riverland bats were cracking, a local graduate made a strong first impression on the mound as the Blue Devils baseball team cruised to two more wins in Cocoa, Florida Wednesday.

Southland grad Brian Voigt pitched a three-hit shutout in RCC’s 4-0 win over Alfred State and the Blue Devils beat Massasoit Community College 18-7.

Voigt also had five strikeouts in seven innings of work in his win.

“Brian got ahead of hitters and he hit his spots,” RCC head coach Scott Koenigs said. “He was consistent with strikes so our defense was able to stay on it’s toes.”

Andy Behnke hit a run-scoring single to put the Blue Devils (8-1 overall) up 1-0 in the third and Shane Lange of St. Charles followed that up with a two-run double to make it 3-0.

In the 18-7 win over Massasoit, which is ranked No. 8 in the nation, the Blue Devils came out swinging as they put up nine runs in the first inning.

All 12 of RCC’s hits came from it’s first six hitters and Behnke, a sophomore from Marshall, had two triples, a double and seven RBIs.

“Our top six hitters are really hitting the ball right now and they’re carrying us,” Koenigs said.

The win over Massasoit, which is in Mass., was a big one for RCC as they have now beaten them twice.

“This is the type of team we have to beat if we want to be ranked nationally, which is one our goals,” Koenigs said.

RCC will play four more games in Florida before heading back.

1 2 3 4 5 R H E

RCC 9 0 6 3 0 18 12 0

Massasoit 0 3 0 4 0 7 11 4

RCC pitching: Kody Retterath, 1 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 ER; Nate Steenblock (W), 2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 1 K; Drew Madsen, 1 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 ER; Zach Prins, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K

RCC hitting: Zach Vlietstra, 3-for-5, RBI, 3 R, 2 SB; Chris Lindemann, 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 3 R; Kyle Starkey, 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB, 3 R; Derek Hahn, 1-for-3, triple, 3 RBI, 3 R; Andy Behnke, 3-for-3, 2 triples, double, 7 RBIs, 2 R; Shane Lange, 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB, R

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E

Alfered St. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

RCC 0 0 3 1 0 0 X 4 8 1

RCC pitching: Brian Voigt (W), 7 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 0 R, 5 K

RCC hitting: Shane Lange, 2-for-3, double, 2 RBIs; Chris Lindemann, 1-for-2, RBI, SB, BB, R; Kyle Starkey, 1-for-2, BB, R; Derek Hahn, 1-for-3; Andy Behnke, 1-for-3, RBI; Jeff Huth, 1-for-3, SB; Mitch Kaplan, 1-for-1, BB, R