Freshman centerfielder Brandon Alexander pounded out five hits and drove in a whopping nine runs Tuesday afternoon in leading the John A. Logan College baseball team to a 16-5, 17-1 doubleheader sweep of Mid-Continent University in Mayfield, Ky.

Alexander, a St. Louis native, had a two-run homer in game one and then followed up with four hits, including a grand slam and three-run homer, in the nightcap.
Chase Greenwell, Michael Kozlowski, Derek Locascio and Ryan Richardson also contributed homers in game one. Kozlowski added a second round tripper in game two.

Sophomore outfielder Derek Mattea notched four hits in the opener, including a double, and added one hit in game two. Derek Trovillion and Adam Velocci chipped in three hits apiece.

Earning the win in game one for Logan was Zackery Burks in relief of Carterville native Brad Drust. Aaron Gregory was credited with the win in game two.

“Our hitting was phenomenal,” said Vols head coach Jerry Halstead. “Everybody contributed to the attack. Mid-Continent had a short rightfield fence, but it was high like the Green Monster in Boston. Brandon Alexander really took advantage of that.”

Halstead was also pleased with the pitching of Burks.

“I thought he did a good job of holding things together after Brad struggled with his control (six walks) the first couple of innings.”

JALC improves to 9-2 overall this fall season and returns to action today (Thursday) in Centralia against Kaskaskia College.

On Sunday, the Vols will host an all-star showcase for Great Rivers Athletic Conference sophomores at Rent One Park in Marion beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing with a game at noon. The showcase provides coaches at four-year schools and pro scouts the opportunity to see several top players altogether on the same field competing with and against one another.

Logan will also host a “Scout Day” Monday at its Carterville facility beginning at noon.