The No. 8-ranked Johnson County baseball team improved to 19-6 on the season and 6-0 in conference play after taking the first two games of the four-game series against Highland on Thursday. The Cavaliers opened with an 11-5 victory then pummeled the Scotties 22-3 in the second game.

In the opener, freshman shortstop Chris Mancinas was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Sophomore first baseman Easton Roe had two singles, a walk, scored three runs and drove in three and sophomore outfielder Ryker Edwards collected a single, double, two runs and two RBI.

JCCC also got multiple hits from sophomore second baseman Jake McClure (3 singles), sophomore outfielder Bo Shinkle (2 singles), sophomore catcher Miken Miller (2 singles) and freshman designated hitter Max Towchik (2 doubles).

Freshman Keston Holman earned the victory for the Cavaliers. The right-hander pitched four perfect innings of relief with eight strikeouts. Sophomore right-hander Josiah Golden got the start allowing five runs off five hits over three innings of work.

In the second game Shinkle drove in four runs on four hits to lead the Cavaliers past the Scotties. He hit a solo home run to right field in the second inning, had an RBI single in the third, walked in a run in the fourth and doubled in the sixth scoring two runs.

Roe was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four driven in. Edwards collected three singles and drove in two runs. Miller had a single, double and three RBI. Freshman outfielder Ashton Hartwig drove in two runs, Mancinas was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI and freshman Zane Timon got his first collegiate hit and RBI with a solo homer over the left field fence in the seventh inning.

Sophomore right-hander Sam Novotny improved to 3-1 on the season. The starter gave up eight hits and three runs, one earned, over four and two-thirds innings, striking out five batters.

Freshman right-hander Jackson Downing three two and one-third shutout innings in relief, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts.

The two teams will conclude the series on Saturday, March 15 at the JCCC Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.