Paints Fall To Aviators 5-4, Split Series in Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, were unable to put together the big inning Wednesday night, losing the Lafayette Aviators 5-4 at Loeb Stadium, splitting the two-game trip.

A lead off walk put Joe Olsavsky aboard to lead off the bottom of the first for Lafayette (7-6). After stealing second, Olsavsky scored on a Brody Williams single, making it 1-0.

Olsavsky walked with one out in the third, scoring on a double by Brandon Daniels, making it 2-0.

Chillicothe (7-7) got on the board in the top of the fourth. Drew Donaldson led off with a double down the right field line. With two outs, Arturo Disla narrowly missed a home run, hitting the ball off the top of the wall in right field for a triple, scoring Donaldson and getting the Paints within one at 2-1.

Olsavsky accounted for another Lafayette run in the bottom of the fourth, singling home Jacob Walker, who reached on a lead off walk, extending the Lafayette lead to 3-1.

Donaldson led off the top of the sixth, tripling to right field and scoring on a wild pitch, pulling the Paints back within a run at 3-2.

Lafayette plated two in the seventh. Michael Scott doubled with one out, scoring on a single by Brody Williams. Williams scored on a two-out RBI single by James Jett, giving the the Aviators their largest advantage of the night at 5-2.

The Paints answered again in the top of the eighth. Cole Kwiatkowski reached on a throwing error by the Lafayette third baseman, advancing to second on a wild pitch and third on a groundout. He scored on a two-out RBI double by Caleb Vaughn. Tim Orr followed with an RBI double of his own, scoring Vaughn and, once again, making it a one-run game, this time at 5-4, the eventual final. 

Luke Walter (1-1) started for Chillicothe and took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits, walking six and striking out four over five innings. Caden Kline pitched the six and seventh innings for the Paints, allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out five. AJ Clegg threw the eighth inning, walking one and inducing a double play, holding Lafayette off the scoreboard.

Coley Stevens (1-0) turned in a quality start for Lafayette, allowing just two runs on four scattered hits, walking one and striking out five over seven innings. Kendall Anthes pitched an inning in relief, allowing a pair of unearned runs on two hits and striking out one. Zachary Zaborowski earned his third save of the season, striking out two and sitting the Paints down in order in the ninth.

The Paints return home to start a three-game home stand at VA Memorial Stadium Thursday, hosting the Normal CornBelters at 7:05 p.m. Draft beer will be just $2 for Thirsty Thursday.