OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa Bulldog baseball team backed two solid pitching performances with plenty of offense to sweep Des Moines Lincoln 15-0 and 4-3 in CIML Metro action Monday night at Legion Field. The two wins move the Bulldogs to 9-5 in Metro Conference action.

Adam Goodvin pitched a four-inning, two-hit shutout in game one. The Bulldogs jumped on the visiting Rails for seven runs in their first at bat. Game, set, match. Whatever fight the visitors came to town with was gone after one inning.

Ottumwa’s Ben Lott led off the game with one of his two first-game hits. One out later, the barrage of runs started. A Lincoln error was followed by an RBI single by Kyle Ward. After Daniel Goodvin walked, Seth Jones singled in another run and Zach Throckmorton had a sacrifice fly for an RBI.

The big hit of the first innin was a two-RBI triple by Brandon Enloe. The inning closed with a hit batsman, another Lincoln error, and RBI singles by Lott and Jake Steinbach.

Ottumwa head coach Ryan Woods talked about his team’s play of late.

“Starting with the big win (over then second-ranked Sioux City North) last weekend, I really have seen us swing the bats better, especially early. Those leads are huge for our starting pitchers,” said Woods.

The Bulldogs failed to score in the second but came back to add three in the home third. Adam Goodvin led off with a walk and pinch runner J.C. Salter would score one out later on a wild pitch. Chris Cordray drew a one-out walk and Steinbach’s second hit put runners at the corners. Kyle Ward’s second hit, a two-RBI double, cleared the bases and put the Bulldogs up, 10-0.

“I don’t remember always hitting this well against Lincoln. Tonight I just felt good. It’s easy to have a good game when everybody is hitting,” commented Ward.

The Bulldogs ended it in the fourth. Lincoln’s third pitcher was tagged for five runs and never recorded an out. The final onslaught started with back-to-back singles by Enloe and Adam Goodvin. Lott reached on a error to load the bases. Another Lincoln error scored a run and Steinbach delivered a single to drive in two more. Ward, the next hitter, picked up his fourth RBI with a single. After a walk to pinch hitter Weston Mittchell, the game-stopper scored as Jones was hit by a pitch to plate run number 15.

“We told our guys how important these games with Lincoln were for seeding in our substate,” added Woods.

In game two, Lincoln put themselves in a hole early. They chose to start the pitcher who was treated to a five-run inning to end game one. This strategy lasted one inning.

As he did in game one, Lott started the Bulldog first with a single. Lott would steal second, and score on a single by Cordray. One out later, Ward picked up his fifth RBI of the doubleheader by grounding out to short.

The Bulldogs were back at it in the second. Lott and Cordray triggered the two-out rally. Lott picked up hit number four for the night.

“I don’t know if I’d say I was streaking. I think I’ve been able to get a hit or two in each game — or at least in the doubleheader,” said Lott.

With two runners on, Cordray drove in runs three and four for the Bulldogs. His triple found the gap and went clear to the wall. Cordray was one of only a couple of Bulldogs who didn’t get a hit in game one.