Catfish Win Big At Quincy

Recap courtesy of the Cape Catfish:

QUINCY, Ill.  – The Cape Catfish sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine times in the sixth inning Wednesday night enroute to a 15-3 road win over the Quincy Gems.

The game ended after seven innings under the Prospect League's 10-run rule.

Cape's offensive outburst in the sixth inning featured back-to-back home runs by Southeast Missouri State University's Danny Sperling and Western Kentucky University's Danny Rudd. Sperling's long ball came with two runners on base and was his first of the season. Rudd's homer was his second this summer.

The sixth inning also included RBI singles by SEMO State's Josh Cameron and Kolton Poorman of Three Rivers Community College, along with four walks, two Quincy fielding errors and a Catfish batter who was hit by a pitch.

In addition to the home runs hit by the Catfish in the sixth, Poorman also connected on a two-run homer in the first inning that helped Cape to an early 3-0 lead.

Cape also scored an unearned run in the third inning and added two runs in the seventh frame when Andrew Sharp from West Virginia State University drove in a run with his second triple of the season and scored on an RBI groundout by Cameron.

Quincy's runs came on a sacrifice fly in the first inning by Luke Napleton from Quincy University, an RBI double in the fifth frame by Dayson Croes, also from Quincy University, and a solo home run in the seventh inning off the bat of Maurice La Fon from Harris-Stowe State University.

Catfish starting pitcher Eli Brown (Lindenwood University) allowed four hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out six and walking three over six innings to earn the win and even his record at 2-2. Quincy starter Bennett Stice, also from Lindenwood University, took the loss, allowing eight hits and four runs in five innings while striking out eight and walking one. His record 3-4.

With the win, Cape's record improved to 4-6 in the second half of the Prospect League season, 16-25 overall, while Quincy fell to 5-7 in the second half, 24-20 overall.

The Catfish return to Cape Girardeau's Capaha Park Thursday to finish a game against the Terre Haute REX Baseball club that was suspended in the top of the 12th inning Saturday with REX leading 11-9. That will be followed by a regularly-scheduled game against REX at 6:35 p.m. Thursday.