FL Normal CornBelters

CornBelters Sweep Joliet in Tuesday Twinbill

Published on July 9, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release


NORMAL, Ill. - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, swept the Joliet Slammers 11-3 and 3-2 in a doubleheader on Tuesday night at the Corn Crib.

The CornBelters opened the scoring in the second inning with a lead-off home run just over the right center field fence by Sam Judah. Pat McKenna followed with a walk and went to third on a Richard Lucas double, then scored on a ground out by Ozney Guillen for a 2-0 advantage.

The Belters added to the lead in the third with a lead-off single by Jhiomar Veras, who went to second on a fielder's choice and scored on a line single up the middle by Mike Schwartz. Judah doubled and Aaron Dudley plated both men with his league-leading 17th double to right center to build the lead to 5-0. Lucas traded places with Dudley for his second double of the game for a 6-0 lead, which ended the night for Slammers starter Travis Bradshaw.

The Slammers registered their first runner on the first hit with two outs in the fourth inning, a soft bouncer only a few feet up the third base line by Russ Moldenhauer, followed by a home run high on the left field lawn by Grant DeBruin and a homer to right by Adam Giacalone to cut the margin to 6-3.

Schwartz roped a two-out single up the middle in the fourth inning to score Tyler Shover, who led off the frame with a base hit and moved to third on a sacrifice and a fielder's choice for a 7-3 Belters lead. Dudley plugged the right center gap with his second double of the game to score Schwartz to push the score to 8-3. Normal added a pair in the fifth on a two-out, two-run single by Santiago Chirino for a 10-3 lead.

Babin (5-2) earned the opening win with his Frontier League-leading third complete game, giving up three runs on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Bradshaw (0-1) took the loss.

In the nightcap, the CornBelters scored in the opening frame on a two-out home run just over the left field fence by Schwartz. Dudley added a home run over the right center wall in the fourth for a 2-0 advantage.

The Slammers loaded the bases in the fifth inning, chasing Belters starter Corey MacDonald, and tied the contest on back-to-back RBI singles by Giacalone and Marquis Riley.

The CornBelters scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth when Schwartz led off with a triple to right center, then loaded the bases with two intentional walks to Sam Judah and Aaron Dudley followed by a walk to Pat McKenna to plate Schwartz and cinch the sweep.

Charley Short (4-0) earned the win in relief while Brett Zawacki (3-2) took the loss.

The series continues with a 7 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday as the Belters send All-Star Cullen Babin (4-2, 2.90 ERA) to mound while the Slammers will give the ball to right-hander Colin Gotzon for his first professional start. Pre-game at www.normalbaseball.com begins at 6:50. It's Meijer Winning Wednesday offering four free reserved bleacher seats when presenting a receipt from Meijer at the Mid-Illini Credit Union box office, plus a $100 Meijer gift card will be given away during the game. The Belters also guarantee a win by allowing ticket stubs from the game in the event of a CornBelters loss to be presented for a ticket to a later game, and kids 12 and under can eat free (hot dog, chips, soda) with the purchase of a full price box seat or bleacher ticket.

THE NIBLET : Mini-Plan Packages for the 2014 season are currently on sale! To purchase Mini-Plan Package tickets, or for more information, please contact the CornBelters today at (309) 454-2255 (BALL) or stop by The Mid-Illini Credit Union Box Office at The Corn Crib during normal business hours.

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Frontier League Stories from July 9, 2014


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