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CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (June 27) – After a loss at home Saturday, another on the road Sunday, and a day off Monday, the Catfish returned to the friendly confines of Capaha Field Tuesday looking to get back in the win column against the visiting Rockabillys from Jackson, Tennessee.

But although they outhit the Rockabillys 11-10, the Catfish were outscored 4-3 Tuesday night, extending their losing streak to three and dropping their record to 19-5.

Although they scored first against the Rockabillys, the Fish fell behind early and never recovered, although they had several opportunities to tie or take the lead in the late innings. Double plays ended Catfish rallies in the 7th and 8th innings and failed to score with the bases loaded in the 9th.

Catfish right fielder Jeff Clarke from Belmont led off the 2nd inning Tuesday night with his first home run of the season, drilled over the right field wall, giving Cape an early 1-0 lead.

But the Rockabillys answered when the first batter in the top of the 3rd, shortstop Aydan Hamilton, bounced a ground rule double over the wall in center. He took third on an infield hit by second baseman Tyler Macon and then tagged up and scored on a foul popup just beyond third base.

The Rockabillys picked up two more in the 5th on a two-out double by former Cape player Dalton Rudd that drove in Hamilton, who led off the inning with his second double of the game, and left fielder Nicho Jordan who scored after receiving a walk form Catfish starter Jorge Romero.

Cape got one of those runs back in the 5th on a two-out RBI double by center fielder Chris Hall from Lincoln Memorial University that scored third baseman Quinton Borders (Crowder College). Hall was back in the lineup for the first time since the middle of last week when he left the team and returned to Georgia for a few days due to a death in his family.

Hall’s RBI pulled the Fish to within a run of the Rockabillys, but the visiting team retained their two-run lead in the 6th when Jackson third baseman Hayden Collins hit a two-out solo home run, his first of the season, to make the score 4-2.

The Catfish pulled to within one in the bottom of the 7th when Borders and catcher Tucker Stockman from Southern Miss led off with back-to-back singles and Hall drove Borders home with a slow grounder to first that he was able to beat out for an infield single. The Fish threatened to score more, with runners on the corners and one out, but desginated hitter Landon Godsey hit a sharp grounder up the middle to second baseman Tyler Macon who stepped on second to retire Hall then fired to first to get Godsey by a half-step.

In the 8th Catfish left fielder Justin Carnici led off with a ground rule double that one-hopped the left field wall, but he was erased with the next batter, designated hitter Landon Godsey (Belmont) hit a liner to Rockabilly second baseman Tyler Macon who tossed to Hamilton covering second before Carinci could return to the bag.

Then with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Stockman and shortstop Jacob Danneman (Hanover College) singled and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch thrown by left-handed reliever Thomas Greeson. Hall was intentionally walked to load the bases. The next batter, Catfish second baseman Creek Robertson from Southern Miss, worked the count full before flying out to right field to end the game.

Catfish starter Jorge Romero took the loss, dropping his record to 2-1. He went six innings, allowing eight hits and four runs while striking out four and walking one. Josh Furtado, the Rockabilly starter, got the win, improving his record to 2-0. He allowed four hits and two runs while striking out six Catfish and walking none in his 5 1/3 innings. Greeson was credited with his first save of the season, going 2 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and no runs, walking one and striking out a pair of Fish.

Cape’s next three games will be against the Thrillville Thrillbillies from Marion, Illinois. Wednesday the teams will play in a 6:45 p.m. game in Marion, Thursday they’ll play each other at Capaha Field in a 6:35 p.m. contest, and on Friday they’ll return to Marion for another 6:45 p.m. game.

Tickets for Thursday night’s game in Cape, and all Catfish home games, can be purchased online through the Catfish website, www.capecatfish.com.