Run production came up short as the Riverland Community College baseball team lost a pair of non-conference games at Waldorf College Sunday afternoon. The host Warriors held off Riverland 1-0 in the opener and 9-4 in the nighcap.

Jeff Geisler threw a gem for the Devil pitching staff in game one, going 8 1/3 innings before relinquishing the game's only run in the bottom of the ninth. Waldorf's Matt Ungs won the pitching duel, allowing only three hits for the victory.

Geisler allowed just six hits in his first start of the spring, striking out five and hitting one batter.

"Geisler threw a terrific game," Riverland's first-year coach Scott Koenigs said. "He didn't walk anybody and he was right at the knees the whole day. We just couldn't get him a run."

Nate Vollbrecht led the Blue Devil bats with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Todd Walerak was 1-3 with the team's only other hit.

In the nightcap, Matt Dixon had another rocky start and lasted just one inning in the 9-4 loss. Dixon walked four, allowed three hits, and six of seven runs came earned. Derek Bonser returned from a knee injury to deliver a wild four innings of relief. He walked five, struck out two, hit three batters, tossed two wild pitches, allowed only one hit and two earned runs.

Curt Peterson calmed things down by retiring Waldorf in order in the bottom of the sixth, but by that time the Warriors had built up their 9-4 lead.

Riverland outhit Waldorf 10-4 in the second game, but nine walks and four hit batsmen made it easier for the Warriors to score.

Mike Haugen, Geisler and Peterson all had two hits in the nightcap. Haugen had his second double of the season.

Bonser, Walerak and Jamie Morrison all went 1-3, and Vollbrecht added a 1-4 day. Bonser's only hit was a triple.

Mark Boehn got the pitching victory for Waldorf (11-6).

The Blue Devils (0-4) open Minnesota Community College Conference South Division play this afternoon with a doubleheader at Rochester at 1 p.m. Riverland's home-opener is Friday, April 4, at 2 p.m. against four-time defending division champion Ridgewater.

Devil softball

The Riverland softball team had Friday's doubleheader at North Iowa Area Community College postponed to Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Mason City. The Lady Blue Devils are 4-5 through two weeks of the season, while NIACC is 5-9.

Riverland's first home softball games will also be played Friday afternoon, starting at 3:30 p.m. with a South Division doubleheader against Central Lakes Community College.