MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Osborne's Walk-Off Blast Caps Tough Day for Bandits

Published on July 28, 2019 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Beloit, WI - The Beloit Snappers swept both games of a doubleheader against the Quad Cities River Bandits on Sunday afternoon at Pohlman Field. Beloit took the opener by a 4-1 final and earned a 4-3 extra-inning victory in the nightcap on a walk-off home run by Nick Osborne in the bottom of the eighth.

In the first game of the day, Beloit (13-22, 40-63) took advantage of a three-run fifth inning to pull away. The frame began with a 1-1 tie, but Bandits starter Jose Rivera walked the leadoff hitter Joseph Pena to begin the rally. In the next at bat, Max Schuemann tapped a bunt right in front of home plate, but Alex Holderbach's throw to second was high and everyone was safe on the error. Devin Foyle followed with a bunt back to the pitcher, but Rivera couldn't get the ball out of his glove allowing Beloit to load the bases. The Snappers cashed in on those mistakes when Payton Squier ripped a two-run double to the left field wall. Nick Osborne followed with a sacrifice fly and Beloit owned a 4-1 lead which ended up the final.

The Snappers had taken a first inning lead against Rivera to open the day. Max Schuemann grounded a double down the third base line to lead off the inning and scored from second on a wild pitch by the starter for a 1-0 lead. David Hensley provided the River Bandits only offense of the game with a game-tying solo home run in the top of the third inning. The home run traveled an estimated 440 feet and left the bat at 106 mph.

Beloit finished with five hits and the Bandits closed the game with five. Schuemann led Beloit with a pair of hits and Hensley had two of his own for the River Bandits.

River Bandits (19-16, 62-39) starting pitcher Jose Rivera took the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, in 5.0 innings. Layne Henderson worked a perfect inning out of the bullpen with two strikeouts.

Osborne's big blast came with one out in the eighth inning of the nightcap. Joseph Pena started the inning at second base and was bunted to third by Anthony Churlin. Garrett Gayle moved ahead in the count 0-2, but Osborne laid off a number of good pitches until he found a 3-2 pitch he could drive and hit it over the right field wall to start a celebration on the field.

The River Bandits had taken their first lead of the day in the top half of the inning when Freudis Nova singled home Grae Kessinger from second to put the Bandits on top 3-2. The only reason the game went to extra innings was a rally in the seventh inning that brought the Bandits back from a 2-1 deficit. Zach Biermann was hit by a pitch to open the frame and Carlos Machado followed by drilling a double off of the batter's eye. On the double, Biermann was cut down at third base for the first out. Michael Wielansky put men on the corners with a single through the left side and then Ramiro Rodriguez's sacrifice fly evened the score.

Beloit took the initial lead two batters into the game on an RBI single from Pena before Nova tied the game with a double off the wall in left field in the top of the first. John Jones hit a solo home run off of Gayle in the sixth inning that staked Beloit to a 2-1 advantage entering the final frame.

Jonathan Bermudez did not factor in the decision after giving up one run in 5.0 innings of work. He recorded seven strikeouts. Gayle allowed three runs in 2.1 innings and surrendered a pair of home runs.

The River Bandits and Snappers will close out their series on Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. RHP Matt Reuppenthal (3-4, 4.34) gets the nod for the River Bandits against Beloit RHP Reid Birlingmair (3-6, 5.01).

All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from July 28, 2019


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.

OurSports Central