Rochester Community and Technical College completed a solid doubleheader sweep of Minnesota North College–Itasca, leaning on elite pitching performances and timely offense to secure a 1–0 victory in the opener before breaking things open in a 6–0 shutout in game two.
The first game of the twin bill was a tightly played pitcher's duel, highlighted by dominance on the mound from RCTC right-hander Brayden Peterson. Peterson turned in one of the strongest outings of the season, firing a complete-game shutout while allowing just two hits. He struck out eight and walked only one, consistently working ahead in counts and neutralizing Itasca's lineup. Minnesota North managed only a pair of singles—one from Nolan Harju and another from Hunter Schultz—and never seriously threatened to score.
Itasca starting pitcher Jonah Schneider nearly matched Peterson pitch for pitch, surrendering just one run over six innings. Schneider scattered three hits and walked two without recording a strikeout, relying on contact management to keep the game scoreless through two innings. RCTC finally broke through in the bottom of the third when Grayson DeClue reached base and later scored the game's only run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Connor Mathison. That run proved decisive, as Peterson retired the final batters in order to seal the 1–0 victory. RCTC finished with just three hits in the game but did not commit an error, while Itasca was held hitless after the first two innings.
The nightcap saw a different offensive story, as RCTC's bats came alive behind another shutout effort—this time from starter Aiden Yochim. Yochim was extremely efficient, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing six hits and two walks. He struck out six and induced a key double play to erase one of Itasca's best chances against him. With Yochim also contributing at the plate, RCTC controlled the game from the middle innings on.
After three scoreless frames, RCTC opened the scoring in the fourth. Connor Mathison crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Gussie Maynard, and moments later Aiden Yochim scored on an error by Itasca's third baseman to make it 2–0. RCTC added another run in the fifth when Derek Encarnacion scored on Yochim's sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to three.
The decisive blow came in the seventh inning. Yochim delivered a run-scoring single to extend the cushion, and Grayson DeClue followed with a two-run single to cap a three-run inning. DeClue finished the game with two hits and two RBIs, while Yochim went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, a walk, and the pitching win. Mathison also had a strong night, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a double.
Minnesota North College–Itasca collected six hits in game two but stranded seven runners and went 0-for with runners in scoring position. RCTC, meanwhile, used a disciplined approach, drawing seven walks and driving in runs via productive at-bats rather than overpowering offense.
The sweep highlighted RCTC's offensive and defensive balance, combining 14 scoreless innings of pitching with opportunistic run production to decisively take both games from Itasca. The Jackets next face MN North-Vermilion in a double-header on Friday.
