One squeaker, one laugher.

That was the formula for the Linn-Mar Lions Tuesday night as they swept a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader from Waterloo West at the Linn-Mar field.

Clutch hitting gave the Lions a 3-2 win in the opener, then Linn-Mar drubbed the Wahawks in the nightcap, 12-0, in five innings.

Waterloo West scored twice in the top of the seventh to tie the opener, 2-2, but the visitors couldn’t get anyone out in the bottom of the inning. Two walks and a Jeremy Danover single loaded the bases, then Keaton Blackford delivered a single to deep center for the game-winner.

Eric Bohr led the Linn-Mar six-hit attack with two singles and Jordan Stroschein had an RBI double in the first game.

Blackford went the distance for the Lions, striking out four while scattering six hits and not walking anyone.

“I was really disappointed to give up two runs in the top of the seventh, but it felt good to come back and win it in the bottom of the inning," he said. "I have been a little frustrated lately at the plate, so it was good to deliver a key hit for the win."

Zack Fricke picked up three hits in a losing cause for Waterloo West (6-28, 5-19).

“They put some nice hits together in the top of the seventh and I am happy that we responded in the bottom of the inning," Linn-Mar Coach Chad Lechner said.

It was all Linn-Mar in game two. Mitch Stickney led the way, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the five-run first inning and a grand slam in the six-run fourth.

“I feel like I am seeing the pitches better right now and I am being more aggressive early in the count,” Stickney said.

Aaron Hunter added two hits. Stroschein and Travis Kvach each drove in a pair. Sophomore Justin Wyant picked up the shutout victory on three hits and six strikeouts in five innings.

Linn-Mar (19-12, 14-10) has its final two conference games Friday at Dubuque Hempstead.

Game 1

WATERLOO WEST (2)
Brown, cf, 3 0 0 0, Vaughn, ss, 3 0 0 0, Fricke, c, 3 1 3 0, Bush, 1b, 3 0 1 0, Jenkins, pr, 0 1 0 0, Stokes, 3b, 2 0 0 1, Kullen, rf, 2 0 1 1, Trebon, dh, 3 0 0 0, Brauer, p, 0 0 0 0, Heyerhoff, 2b, 3 0 1 0, Christensen, lf, 2 0 0 0. Totals 24 2 6 1.

LINN-MAR (3)
Hunter, lf, 3 0 1 0, Larison, ss, 1 1 0 0, Redmond, cf, 3 1 0 0, J.Stroschein, rf, 2 0 1 1, Kvach, pr, 0 1 0 0, Danover, c, 3 0 1 0, Bogert, cr, 0 0 0 0, A. Stroschein, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Blackford, p, 3 0 1 1, Stolley, 1b, 2 0 0 0, Bohr, 2b, 2 0 2 0. Totals 21 3 6 2.

Waterloo West   000 000 2 - 2 6
Linn-Mar            100 100 1 – 3 6

Brauer and Fricke. Blackford and Danover. W - Blackford. L- Brauer. 2B - Fricke, Kullen, J.Stroschein. 3B - Fricke. SB - Larison.

Game 2

WATERLOO WEST (0)
Brown, cf, 3 0 0 0, Vaughn, ss, 2 0 0 0, Fricke, c, 2 0 1 0, Brauer, cr, 0 0 0 0 Bush, 1b, 2 0 1 0, Stokes, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Kullen, rf, 2 0 1 0, Jenkins, dh, 1 0 0 0, Heyerhoff, 2b, 0 0 0 0, Ruffcorn, p, 2 0 0 0, Fisher, p, 0 0 0 0, Christensen, lf, 1 0 0 0. Totals 17 0 3 0.

LINN-MAR (12)
Hunter, lf, 3 2 2 0, Larison, ss, 0 2 0 0, Sillman, ph, 0 0 0 0, Redmond, cf, 3 0 1 0, Johnson, ph, 0 0 0 0, J. Stroschein, rf, 2 2 1 2, Bogert, ph, 1 1 0 0, Danover, c, 1 0 1 0, Kvach, 2b, 2 1 1 2, Blackford, p, 2 0 0 0, Sturenfeldt, 0 2 0 0, Stickney, dh, 3 1 2 5, Wyant, p, 0 0 0 0, Prokop, 3b, 1 1 0 0. Totals 17 12 8 9.

Waterloo West   000 00 -   0 3
Linn-Mar            510 6x – 12 8

Ruffcorn, Fisher (4), Christensen(4) and Fricke. Wyant and Danover. W - Wyant. L - Ruffcorn. 2B - Hunter, Kvach, Stickney. HR - Stickney. SB Hunter, Larison.