JEWELL — Gilbert exploited South Hamilton’s inability to consistently throw strikes in a shortened Heart of Iowa Conference baseball game at the Mike Penning Athletic Complex Wednesday night.

The Tigers (3-1, 1-1 HOIC) accepted eight walks and lashed eight hits in a 12-1, 5-inning rout of the Hawks (0-2, 0-2 HOIC).

“We struggled throwing strikes,” South Hamilton head coach Kyle Galetich said. “We did our part to help them.”

Gilbert scored in all five of its at bats and broke the game open by plating five runs in the fourth inning. Seven of the team’s hits were singles; Garrison Holck roped a double.

Ben Perrin did the most damage for the Tigers with a pair of hits and five RBI.

South Hamilton connected for just four hits, all singles, off Tigers’ pitcher Nathan Chasey. CJ Hewitt laced a RBI single in the bottom of the first for the Hawks lone run. DJ Klonglan, Blake Barquist and Cole Ellis added singles.

Chasey was on cruise control in the complete-game win. He fanned nine batters.

“Chasey is real good,” Galetich said. “He’s an all-conference type pitcher.”

Gilbert 12, So Hamilton 1 (5 inn.)

Wednesday at Jewell

Gilbert 123 51 — 12 8 0

So Hamilton 100 00 — 1 4 1

Nathan Chasey and Ben Perrin. CJ Hewitt, Cole Berg (4) and Zeke Balderas. W — Chasey. L — Hewitt. 2B — GIL: Garrison Holck. RBI — GIL: Perrin (5), Nick Thielen (2), Mitchell Johnson, Chasey; SH: Hewitt.