The Riverland baseball team busted loose for five home runs and the Blue Devil softball squad clinched its second consecutive MCCC Southern Division title in local community college hardball action Tuesday.

The Blue Devil baseball team traveled to Mankato for a doubleheader with Bethany Lutheran, tallying 39 total hits and 30 runs in wins of 19-11 and 11-6. Michael Nastav accounted for two home runs in the first game of the double-dip, and Luke Larson bombed two more -- only one of which went down in the scorebook as a home run. Larson was called out for overrunning a fellow Blue Devil on the bases during what would have been his second homer of the opener.

Nastav finished 3-5 with two home runs and four RBIs. He's the team leader with five homers. Nate Vollbrecht went 4-6 with a pair of doubles, while Josh Kunze was 3-5 with two doubles as well. Jamie Morrison and Larson both finished 3-5 with a double, and Larson totalled four RBIs.

Riverland scored 10 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break an 11-11 tie in the opener. The game was tied at 9-9 after the regulation seven innings, and both teams scored twice in the ninth. Sean Breslin earned the win in relief of John Roesler.

In game two, Matt Nalan knocked out his second home run of the season as one of six Blue Devils with at least two hits in an 11-6 Blue Devil victory.

Nastav led the way with a 3-5 plate performance, helping Jeff Giesler to the pitching victory. Breslin, Vollbrecht, Larson and Kunze each had two hits, while Josh Ramaker and Clint Ripley chipped in with singles. Ramaker scored three runs and Ripley also came plateward in his only at-bat.

The Blue Devils (14-10, 13-7) play four games this weekend, starting Friday at North Hennepin at 3 p.m. Riverland is at home against Anoka-Ramsey Saturday at 1 p.m.

Two-time champs

Sherry Hanson surrendered one run and Marisa Kelsey pitched a one-hit shutout as the Riverland softball squad secured the top spot in the MCCC South with a pair of victories over Bethany Lutheran Tuesday in Austin.

Riverland squeezed through in the opener, netting three runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-1 victory. Tammy May and Beth Harsma each had three hits to lead the Devils, and Jenna Cummins chipped in with two singles.

Hanson struck out six and walked none in the complete-game six-hitter.

Kelsey got solid defense behind her to allow only one hit in an 11-0 nightcap. Missy Avery led the offense with a 3-4 effort and three RBIs.

Erin Evans, Cummins and Katie Berg each had two hits.