Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: John Nemmers slides into home plate for St. Edmond against Eagle Grove on Thursday night at Rogesr Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

For the second straight night, an underclassman shined bright on the mound for the St. Edmond baseball team.

This time it was Hayden Derrig’s turn, as the freshman struck out five and allowed just two hits to help the Gaels down Eagle Grove here Thursday, 10-0 in five innings.

Derrig walked just one batter and allowed two singles in the fourth, getting a strikeout and grounder to escape the situation.

St. Edmond sophomore Tyler McDowell put together a complete game of his own on Wednesday in a win over Iowa Falls-Alden, striking out four.

“Those are two young guys that I’m really excited to see continue to work and improve over these next couple of years,” SEHS head coach Mike Szalat said. “Hayden is just a competitor and he really put together a great night on the mound.”

The Gaels (6-9 overall) finished the week with three consecutive wins in as many nights — their longest streak of the year.

Grant Heldorfer, Devon Wirtz, John Nemmers, Peyton Scott and Joe Li each had two hits, with Heldorfer and Scott scoring twice. Wirtz, Nemmers and Scott each drove in two runs.

“One thing I was really pleased with was that we were able to get a lot of different kids into the game,” Szalat said. “I was one of those guys that sat on the bench so I know how it feels. At the same time, when you are playing a Jordan Miller-coached team, you know they are going to keep fighting and never give up.”

Heldorfer and Wirtz got things rolling in the first with back-to-back singles, as both also stole second base. Scott and Li drove the two seniors in with base hits, making it 2-0 St. Edmond.

In the second, Heldorfer doubled and scored with the Gaels going up 8-0 thanks to a five-run fourth in which Nemmers, Scott and Derrig each drove in a run.

Senior Andrew Elbert ended the game in the fifth after getting on base, stealing second and scoring on a Nemmers single.

“Coach (Drew) Hansen was working with our batting order a little and it seems to be clicking,” Szalat said. “We did a nice job of moving runners, stealing bases and stringing things together.”

For Eagle Grove (5-9), Cayden Schultz and Jordan Morris each had a hit with Mack Morgan reaching base twice.

St. Edmond returns to action on Monday when they host Algona. Eagle Grove meets Bishop Garrigan.