Washington sophomore Michael Gier winds up for a pitch Friday evening versus Central Lee. Gier pitched six innings to earn the Demons’ first win of the season. Photo by KCII’s Nate Gonner.

A stellar pitching performance gave the Washington Demon baseball team (1-2 overall) their first victory of the season. A scheduling error had the Demons hosting the Central Lee Hawks at Dick Sojka Memorial Field in Washington.

Washington sophomore Michael Gier pitched six of the Demons’ seven innings Friday night, allowing three hits, an unearned run, a walk, and four strikeouts in a 9-1 victory over Central Lee. Gier had a no-hitter broken up in fifth inning. Demon baseball coach Nathan Miller said Gier did a great job of the hitters down early in the pitch count. “We want to make sure we get a head in the count and get strike one right away.” Miller said, “This way we can use more off speed pitches throughout the rest of the at bat. We noticed in our first two games that the innings we got a head in the count, they went smoothly and the innings we were constantly behind 1-0, we found ourselves with base runners on. ”

The Demons bats also came alive in the later innings. After three scoreless innings, sophomore Ryan Loy produced a two out double in the bottom of the fourth to plate a pair of Demon runners for a 2-0 advantage after four innings. Washington added one run in the fifth, and six runs in the sixth for a final score of 9-1. Sophomore Bryce Craff went three for four at the dish, connecting on three singles and driving in two runs in the victory.

The win improves Washington’s overall record to 1-2 overall. The Demons return to the field on Monday evening, traveling to Fort Madison for a Southeast Conference showdown with the Fort Madison Bloodhounds.

Washington’s Bryce Craff swings at a pitch in Friday’s non-conference clash against the Central Lee Hawks. Craff produced three singles and two RBI’s in the 9-1 victory over the Hawks. Photo by KCII’s Nate Gonner.