Paints & Kings Split Doubleheader In Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by Adena Health System, traveled to Springfield Tuesday night for a doubleheader with the Champion City Kings, winning game one 16-11 and losing game two 4-3.

The first game was a continuation of a suspended game from June 1. With the Paints leading 4-0 in the top of the second inning to start the game, Mike Sprockett knocked home Ben Gbur, making it 5-0.

Chillicothe (15-6) got home runs from Gbur and Connor Ashby, the first of the season for both, jumoing out to a 10-1 lead in the third inning.

Champion City (5-13) pushed across seven unearned, two-out runs in the bottom of the third, cutting the Paints' lead to 10-8. 

The Paints would add on in the fourth, scoring a pair of runs to go up 12-8, but Champion City plated two in the fifth and one in the sixth to make it a one-run game with the Paints leading 12-11.

Chillicothe got four insurance runs in the eighth and held on for the win.

It was more a pitcher's duel in game two, with Jack Sokol for the Paints and Drew Lang both shutting down the other team's offense to start the game. 

Chillicothe finally broke through with a pair of unearned runs in the third, but Champion City answered with a two-run home run off the bat of Alex Ryan in the bottom of the inning.

The Paints took a 3-2 lead with another unearned run in the fifth, a lead they took into the seventh and final inning of the game.

Champion City's Nick Dolan doubled to lead off the seventh and Patrick Fultz walked, both advancing on a wild pitch and scoring on a game-winning hit by Ethan Krizen to end the night.

The Paints are off Wednesday, they return to VA Memorial Stadium Thursday to host Johnstown at 7:05 p.m. It's Drive Sober Night by Ross Safe Communities and draft beer is just $2 for Thirsty Thursday.