Eric Stein knows from here on out, each time his Iowa Central baseball team competes at home, it is a key game. 

The 18th-ranked Tritons earned a sweep over Marshalltown at Ed Barbour Field on Saturday, opening ICCAC play just as Stein had hoped: with two victories.

Scores were 4-3 and 10-0 in six innings. 

After getting some late dramatics from Devin Hurdle to pull out the win in the opener, Iowa Central (10-4 overall, 2-0 in league) was clicking on all cylinders in the nightcap.

"It was good to see us figure out a way to win when we weren't playing our best," Stein said. "We're still so early in the year that we haven't really had time to see what everybody can do in certain situations. But we were able to overcome our mistakes there in the first and get the win."

The Tritons quickly scored two in the first, added four in the third and ended it with four more in the sixth. Nate Mortimer had two hits and drove in four with Gavin Baker collecting two hits and two RBI. 

Max Holy plated a pair of runs and Ryan Wickman scored twice. Wickman also had a stolen base with Ben Gallaher and Jalen Martinez each driving in a run. 

That was more than enough support for John Klein, as he pitched five innings of four-hit ball, striking out eight with two walks. 

"John pitched a great game as he has done each time out on the mound this year," Stein said. "We looked more confident at the plate and with our approach. With the windy conditions, we told the guys we'd have to move runners and string hits together. I thought we did a nice job of that."

In the bottom of the seventh of the first game, Hurdle plated Derek Kay, who came on to run after Martinez worked a walk. Kay stole second and advanced to third on an error, crossing home on a base hit by Hurdle with one out.

"Everybody knew Kay was going to steal, but he still went out and got the job done," Stein said. "And Hurdle stepped in and drove him home. Those are the kind of games you are happy you win when it's all said and done."

Baker also drove in a run and scored with Mortimer adding a stolen base. 

Devon Schewe pitched six innings, striking out eight with six hits allowed. Matthew Wilkinson earned the win, pitching the seventh with a strikeout. 

The Tritons host Marshalltown in another doubleheader on Sunday beginning at noon.

-By Dana Becker