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JACKSON, TN (June 22) – A three-run homer by Catfish second baseman Kevin McCarthy helped pace the Cape Catfish to their fourth straight win Thursday night as they held off the Jackson Rockabillys on the road 9-1.

McCarthy’s round-tripper was his first of the season and gave the Catfish a 6-1 lead after four innings.

Both teams scored a run in the 1st inning with Cape’s coming on a one-out double by left fielder Justin Carinci that drove home center fielder Jeff Clarke who had walked to start the game.

Jackson’s run came on a wild pitch thrown by Catfish starter Bryce Morgan that allowed Rockabilly center fielder Griffin Cameron, who had doubled to lead off the bottom of the 1st, to score.

The Fish regained the lead in the top of the third on a two-out RBI double by right fielder Brody Chrisman. He ranks second in the Prospect League with 35 runs batted in after 20 games.

Cape’s third run came in the 4th on a ground out by shortstop Jacob Danneman, playing his first game with the Catfish this season. His grounder drove in third baseman Lane Crowden who had walked, stolen second and advanced to third on a throwing error to lead off the inning. That was followed two batters later by McCarthy’s home run that also drove in Clarke and designated hitter Dee Triplett, both of whom had reached base on walks.

There was no more scoring until Clarke was hit by a pitch to lead off the 9th, McCarthy walked and Justin Carinci singled to drive in Clarke. Two batters later, first baseman Landon Godsey singled to left scoring both McCarthy and Carinci, making the score 9-1.

Morgan pitched the first three innings for the Catfish, allowing two hits and one run while striking out four Rockabillys and walking two. He was relieved in the 4th by Kam Dohogne who scattered five hits and struck out two in his three shutout innings. Dante Zamudio pitched the 7th and 8th innings, retiring all six batters he faced on a fly ball, a pair of infield outs and three strikeouts. Jordan Riley faced four Rockabilly batters in the 9th, allowing one hit and striking out three.

The Catfish outhit the Rockabillys 9-8. Jackson committed the only two errors of the game.

With the win, Cape’s record improved to 18-2, good for first place in the Prospect League’s Prairie Land Division, while the Rockabillys fell to 7-12.

In their 18 wins so far this season, the Catfish have outscored their opponents 187 to 57 giving them an average margin of victory of just over seven runs. Both of their losses have been by one run; they lost to the O’Fallon Hoots at Capaha Field 3-2 on June 14 and they fell to the Quincy Gems on the road on June 18, 4-3.

The Catfish and Rockabillys will meet again Friday night at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Tickets for Friday night’s game, and all other Catfish home games, are available online through the Catfish website, www.capecatfish.com.