Cape Grabs Comeback Win Over Clinton

From the Cape Catfish:

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Cape Catfish took advantage of timely hitting and strong pitching performances to pick up a 5-3 win Wednesday night against the Clinton LumberKings at Capaha Field.

The Catfish took an early lead when with two outs in the second, Danny Sperling (Southeast Missouri State) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Blake Barton (Belmont University) drove him home with a single to left field.

Clinton answered with a run of their own in the third with a ground out off the bat of Rayth Petersen (University of Illinois-Chicago) that drove in Taeg Gollert (Missouri State University) who had reached base on walk and eventually made it to third base.

Cape regained the lead in the bottom of the third when Chris Hall (Florida State College at Jacksonville) walked and stole the first of his three stolen bases before scoring on a double by J.D. Ortiz (SIU-Carbondale). The RBI gave Ortiz 21 on the season to lead the team.

Clinton tied the game again in the fourth with a pair of singles and an infield out that drove in Luke Ira, the LumberKing's third baseman from South Dakota State University.

The game stayed tied until the seventh inning when a throwing error on an attempted double play allowed Clinton to take the lead, 3-2.

But the Catfish picked up three runs in their half of the seventh, an inning that included three walks and RBI singles by Barton and Ty Stauss (Southeast Missouri State). Sperling was also credited with an RBI when he was hit by a pitch.

Southeast Missouri State's Hunter Ralls started on the mound for the Catfish, struck out five LumberKings while allowing three runs, two of them earned, over 6 1/3 innings. Mark Eddie from Buena Vista University tossed the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing no hits and no runs while striking out four to earn the win, his first of the season. This was Eddie's ninth pitching appearance this season to lead the club and his lights-out pitching Wednesday night lowered his ERA to under 1.50.

Although he only pitched 2/3 of an inning, the LumberKings' Nolan Frey (Mount Mercy University) was tagged with the loss after allowing the Catfish to take the lead in the seventh. His record now stands at 2-1.

With the win, Cape's record is now 10-16 while Clinton falls to 11-15.

The Catfish and LumberKings face each other again Thursday at Cape Girardeau's Capaha Field. Game time is 6:35 p.m.

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From the Clinton LumberKings

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - After two off days, the Clinton LumberKings took to the road to visit the Cape Catfish on Wednesday night. In game one of a two game series the LumberKings dropped their fourth straight game, 5-3 the final.

Early on both teams traded offensive blows. Cape opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Blake Barton (Belmont) made it a 1-0 game with an RBI single scoring Danny Sperling (Southeast Missouri State).

Clinton responded in the top half of the third. Rayth Petersen (University of Illinois Chicago) tallied an RBI with a groundout scoring Taeg Gollert (Missouri State University). 

In the bottom of the third JD Ortiz (Southern Illinois) regained the lead for the Catfish. Ortiz drove in one with an RBI double making it 2-1.

The LumberKings responded by knotting things up in the fourth. Clinton evened things when Joe Simpson (Kirkwood CC) drove in one with a single making it 2-2.

The game remained tied until the seventh. Simpson again was involved, this time scoring on a throwing error and giving the LumberKings their first lead of the game.

Trailing for the first time, Cape had an answer in the bottom of the inning. Ty Stauss (Southeast Missouri State) drove in a runner tying things up with a single, and then later in the frame Cape took the lead when Danny Sperling was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded. Cape would tally one more and finish the seventh with a 5-3 lead.

Clinton brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but could not come back against the Catfish.

On the mound Blake Gaskey (Southeastern CC) got the start for the LumberKings. Gaskey was solid, going 5.2 innings and allowing just two runs to cross the plate.

Next up for Clinton it is game two of the series tomorrow night at Capaha Field at 6:35 p.m.