Big Inning Leads to Horseshoes Win Over Catfish
SPRINGFIELD, IL (July 3) – An eight-run 2nd inning gave the Lucky Horseshoes plenty of momentum Monday night as they held on to defeat the Cape Catfish 12-9 at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.
The loss dropped Cape’s overall record this summer to 22-7 and 0-1 in the second half of the Prospect League season which began Monday. Meanwhile, Springfield’s overall record improved to 12-16, 1-0 in the second half of the season.
The Catfish took an early lead Monday night when Fish third baseman Kolten Poorman from Eastern Illinois University scored an unearned run on an error by Springfield shortstop Nick Terrell, a senior at SIU-Edwardsville.
But Springfield got that run back – plus a lot more – in the bottom of the second. Horseshoes third baseman Patrick Graham from Wabash Valley College drove in two runs with a single to center, Catfish starting pitcher Noah Gadberry {Delta State) issued a bases-loaded walk, second baseman Brayden Smith from Iowa Western Community College hit his first home run of the season – a grand slam no less – and an error by Poorman at third allowed an unearned run to cross the plate.
When the dust had settled, Springfield had an 8-1 lead after two innings.
The Catfish cut into the lead in the top of the 5th when first baseman Landon Godsey from Belmont hit a three-run homer over the center field fence. It was his second long-ball this summer and made the score 8-4.
The Shoes answered in the bottom of the 5th with three runs of their own with a two-run double to right off the bat of pinch hitter Ty Rhoades from Jonesboro, Arkansas, and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch thrown by Catfish reliever Bryce Morgan from Mineral Area College, giving Springfield an 11-4 lead.
Cape scored twice in the 6th on a two-RBI double by Catfish left fielder Brody Chrisman (Purdue), his 39th and 40th runs batted in this season, but the Horseshoes answered with a run of their own in the following inning on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Brandon Hager.
The Catfish added three runs in the 8th when shortstop Jacob Danneman from Hanover College scored from third on a wild pitch and then scored their eigth and ninth runs when Godsey smacked a double to center, giving him five runs batted in on the night.
Gadberry was the losing pitcher, evening his record at 2-2. He went two innings, giving up eight runs (six earned) on six hits, walking one and striking out four. Springfield reliever Brant Smith, a freshman at Northeast Mississippi Community College, was credited with the win after getting the final out in the 5th and pitching the 6th inning, giving him a 1-2 record. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits, walking two and striking out a pair of Catfish.
Springfield reliever Trent Koehler earned his first save of the season, pitching a scoreless 9th and striking out three of the four batters he faced.
The Catfish finished the game with nine runs on seven hits while the Horseshoes had 12 runs on nine hits. Both teams committed three errors.
The Catfish will spend the 4th of July on the road, taking on the Rockabillys in Jackson, Tennessee, in a 7 p.m. game Tuesday. They return to Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau Wednesday to take on the Rockabillys in a 6:35 p.m. contest. The first 300 fans entering the gate Wednesday will receive a free koozie courtesy of Kohlfeld Distributing.
Tickets for Wednesday night’s game, and all Catfish home games, can be purchased online through the Catfish website, www.capecatfish.com.