Colts Beat Aces, 5-4.
June 14, 2013 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Alexandria Aces News Release
ALEXANDRIA- Derrick Pyles' two home runs for Alexandria were overshadowed by Chris Ellison's home run to right field in the eighth inning to give the Fort Worth Cats a 5-4 victory against the Aces Thursday night.
The victory allowed Fort Worth (12-8) to maintain a two game lead on first place at the quarter point of the 2013 season.
"I'm happy we won tonight. It's important to us," said Cats manager Jim Essian. "If you lose a four hour game, it's doubly bad."
The marathon game lasted a season high 3:52.
The Aces (9-9) took an initial 3-0 lead when Pyles hit his fourth home run well over the fence in left field off Steve Nikonchik in the second inning and scored two more runs in the third when the Cats starter threw away a sacrifice bunt attempt by Zack Cadet, allowing Craig Littleman to score from second base. Nick Mahin's single an out later plated Cadet.
But the Cats tied it in the third on two sacrifice flies by Kyle Pearson and David Bergin and Ellison's RBI double off Aces starter Jon Jones.
Aljay Davis, who had 10 hits in the four game series, then put the Cats on top with a one out single in the fifth off Jones to score Cameron Monger.
Cameron Dullnig and Alex Schmarzo pitched scoreless innings of relief before Pyles tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with an opposite field homer to right off Hector Contin (2-1) to tie the game 4-4.
"Like I always do, I prayed before the at bat," said Pyles, who in the offseason is an evangalist for Sandlot Ministries in Indiana. "I asked God to help me do something positive.
"I knew Conti was throwing hard and I tried to hit a home run to right field."
Pyles' success was his fifth homer of the season, his professional career high. He is now second in the United League in home runs, trailing only San Angelo's Kyle Nichols, who has seven.
But Ellison met Leo Madrid (1-1) with his first homer of the season. Despite a .220 average, Ellison now is second in the United League with 19 RBIs.
"His average isn't good but he gets the bat on the ball and hits when it counts," said Essian.
Chad Robinson then pitched two scoreless innings for the Cats to earn his second save of the season.
The Aces now travel on an eight game road trip to San Angelo and Edinburg. Dan Schmidt (1-0) pitches against the Colts tomorrow at 7:05 p.m.
United League Baseball Stories from June 14, 2013
- Wings Rally Late - Edinburg Roadrunners
- 2013 Late Rally Enough For Wings - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Miller, Ford Pace Cats in Game One Victory - Fort Worth Cats
- Aces Reliever Announces Retirement - Alexandria Aces
- Colts Trade Mobbs to Wichita - San Angelo Colts
- Colts Beat Thunder with Walk-Off Homer - San Angelo Colts
- Colts Beat Aces, 5-4. - Alexandria Aces
- Early Rally, Late Homer Lead Cats to Series Split - Fort Worth Cats
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