GRUNDY CENTER — Battling the heat and Grundy Center, the South Hamilton baseball team came out ahead in both ends of a non-conference twin bill here Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks rolled up 13 hits en route to a 9-4 victory in Game 1, and then ripped off three big innings to take Game 2, 11-5.

“I felt like we were playing from behind all day and never really got comfortable, but it was a learning experience,” South Hamilton head coach Kyle Galetich said. “We’re not like other teams that play a ton of doubleheaders, so it was kind of a change for us.”

South Hamilton (11-3) trailed 3-1 early in the opener, but unleashed a six-run flurry in the fifth inning to take command.

Carter Hewitt and Elijah Balderas both went 3 for 4 at the dish with three RBIs. Hewitt roped a double, as did Brock Galetich en route to a 2 for 3 outing. Lane Swenson added two hits and an RBI, while Kyler Hodnefield and Tanner Blue singled.

Hewitt got the start on the mound and struck out six before he handed the ball to Balderas, who earned the win in relief.

Bryce Greiner cranked a solo home run for Grundy Center (7-5) in Game 2, and the Spartans owned a 9-7 edge in hits.

Kyle Galetich was able to rest some of his starters, and Gavin Swenson and Carter Balvanz came off the bench to smack hits and drive in a combined three runs.

Jake Ellis was the winning pitcher, and he went 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Tycin Barkema laced two singles and Swenson added one.

South Hamilton will be at home this evening to host Heart of Iowa Conference rival Saydel at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday at Grundy Center

Game 1

SH 9, Grundy Center 4

SH 102 060 0 — 9 13 0

GC 300 100 0 — 4 6 2

Carter Hewitt, Elijah Balderas (4) and Balderas, Jake Ellis (4). Tate Jirovsky, Cameron Decker (5), Brody Zinkula (7) and Patrick Brown III. W — Balderas. L — Jirovsky. Multiple hits — SH: Hewitt (3), Balderas (3), Brock Galetich, Lane Swenson; GC: Logan Knaack, Colin Gordon. 2B — SH: Hewitt, Galetich. RBI — SH: Hewitt (3), Balderas (3), Swenson, Tanner Blue; GC: Knaack, Gordon, Brown III.

Game 2

SH 11, Grundy Center 5

SH 030 440 0 — 11 7 2

GC 210 001 1 — 5 9 3

Jake Ellis, Freddie Lewis (5), Tanner Blue (7) and Gatlin Johnson. Sloan Klar, Jaren Lauver (3), Bryce Greiner (5) and Patrick Brown III. W — Ellis. L — Greiner. Multiple hits — SH: Ellis, Tycin Barkema; GC: Dayne Zinkula, Colin Gordon. 2B — GC: Bryce Greiner. HR — GC: Gordon. RBI — SH: Ellis (3), Carter Balvanz (2), Gavin Swenson; GC: Gordon, Brown III, Logan Knaack.