CornBelters Split Doubleheader at Evansville
May 20, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
EVANSVILLE, Ind - The Normal CornBelters (2-6) stopped their six game losing streak and split the series opening doubleheader with Evansville (4-4) on Saturday night.
GAME 1:
Once again starting pitching dominated for Normal. After giving up a home run in the first inning with two outs, Matt Portland calmed down. The lefty went on to strikeout nine Otters, which is the most strikeouts by a Normal starting pitcher this season. A former draft pick by the Royals, Portland didn't allow a walk in six innings of work.
At the plate Normal couldn't seem to figure it out with leaving seven runners on. In the fourth it seemed like the CornBelters were about to get on the board. Derrick Loveless knocked a single for his second hit of the game followed by a Tanner Lubach doulbe with two outs, but Normal couldn't complete the two out rally and remained scoreless.
The Belters final chance came in the last inning when again they got runners on with two outs. Derek Bauer walked then Cody Erickson beat out an infield single. Both would be left on and Normal would fall 4-0 to Evansville in the first game of the doubleheader.
GAME 2:
After not solving it up at the plate for the past couple games, the CornBelters repeated their offense outburst on opening night at Corn Crib. Santiago Chirino singled to center field for his 600 career hit in the Frontier League. Chirino is now one of four players to record 600 hits in the league. Four pitches later Chris Iriart smased a no doubter to left and the CornBelters took a 2-0 lead. Back-to-back singles by Andrew Godbold and Loveless, set up for a three-run homer from Tanner Lubach for his team leading third home run.
Chirino added to his hit total again in the fifith. The Belter shorstop singled to center for his second hit of the game and 13 on the season.
Evansville went on to score three staright runs in the third, fourth and fifith.
Normal got back on the board in the sixith. Iriart leadoff with a double to left then moved another 90 feet on a groundout by Godbold. Loveless brought around Iriaft with a tirple.
Billy Roth was given the start in game two of the doubleheader.He gave first year mangaer Billy Horn, four and two thirds work along with four strikeouts. Anthony Herrera appreared for the fifith time which is tied for the most apperanes in the league. The former ULM Warhawk, went on to complete the sixith and then turned the ball over to Kuel McEachern. The Otters tied the game in the seventh after a lead off walk then a two-run home run to force extra innings.
With the new rule in place this year for extras where the leadoff man starts at second, Loveless advanced to third on a pass ball and got brought in by a single from Lubach. The Ottersf tied it up after a fielder's choice to continue extras.
Chirino knocked his 603 hit in the tenth which brought around Centeno who scored from second to take a 7-6 lead. The Otters made it an even 7-7 after a wild pitch and a fielder's choice.
The CornBelters took a two-run lead in the eleventh. Lubach started on seecond and then came around to to score on the tenth pitch after a single by Erickson. Bauer scored in the tenth after he reached base ond an error by the shortstop.
In the bottom of the eleventh, Mark Hendricks sureneded one run, but he would be the ConrBelter answer to hold the Otters and help Normal pick up their second win of the year.
The CornBelters look to win their first series of the year in game three at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday.
Frontier League Stories from May 20, 2018
- Comeback Comes up Short as Miners Lose to Rascals - Southern Illinois Miners
- Rascals Earn Series Win over Miners - River City Rascals
- Florence Splits Sunday Twin Bill with Gateway - Florence Y'alls
- Otters Take Rubber Game 5-4 against CornBelters - Evansville Otters
- Grizzlies Split Tightly Contested Twinbill - Gateway Grizzlies
- Wild Things and Crushers Split Sunday Doubleheader - Washington Wild Things
- Lake Erie Crushers Split Double Header - Lake Erie Crushers
- Bums Come Back But Fall in Tenth - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Boomers Walk off in Extras - Schaumburg Boomers
- Joliet's Walk-Off Homer Knocks out Bolts - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Slammers Walk off vs Windy City Sunday Afternoon - Joliet Slammers
- CornBelters Split Doubleheader at Evansville - Normal CornBelters
- Rascals Split Doubleheader with Miners - River City Rascals
- Otters Split Doubleheader against CornBelters - Evansville Otters
- Miners Score Walk-Off Win in Doubleheader Split - Southern Illinois Miners
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
