WESTLAKE – Lucas Alexander swung a big stick Wednesday evening to lead Iowa to an 8-5 extra-inning win at Westlake High School in a top-10 showdown.

Iowa, the fifth-ranked team in the Non-select Division II, won for the seventh time in its last nine games after starting the season 2-5.

Westlake (16-5) lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Rams are the No. 2 team in Non-select Division III.

Alexander hit two home runs, including a two-run blast to center field with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to give the Yellow Jackets (9-7) an 8-5 lead. The senior shortstop hit a solo home run with two outs in the top of the fifth inning for a 2-1 lead. He finished the game 3 for 5 at the plate.

Senior right-hander Reed Dupre (4-2) pitched his fourth complete game of the season as he won his third consecutive start. Dupre struck out a season-high eight batters with no walks and four earned runs in eight innings.

Dupre closed the game strong by inducing two groundouts sandwiched around a strikeout on 13 pitches in the eighth inning.

Iowa led 5-1 heading into the seventh inning, but the Rams rallied to force extra innings. Brody Anderson and Brody Boudreaux hit back-to-back RBI singles, and Bradyn Spears tied the game at 5-5 on an RBI single to center field to score Boudreaux.

The Rams had a chance to end the game in regulation but left the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

 

Iowa    8

Westlake        5, 8 inns.

Iowa    000113 03 – 8-9-3

WHS    000 100 40 – 5-6-4

PITCHING: W – Reed Dupre. L – Brody Anderson.

TOP HITTERS: Iowa – Tyler Dartez 2-4 (run, 3 RBI, 2 doubles), Lucas Alexander 3-5 (2 runs, 3 RBI, 2 HR), Diego Denison 2-3 (2 runs). Westlake – Brody Anderson 2-4 (run, RBI).

RECORDS: Iowa – 9-7. Westlake – 16-5.