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FL River City Rascals

Rascals Earn First Playoff Win In Franchise History

September 8, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


O'FALLON, MO - The Rascals turned a 6-5 deficit in the 12th inning into a walk-off 7-6 victory Tuesday night in game one of their best of five playoff series with Windy City. It was the first ever playoff win in franchise history and it gave the Rascals at 1-0 lead with game two tomorrow night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.

The Rascals (1-0) started the 12th down by a run after Vinnie Scarduzio doubled off the wall in right against Jason Lowey (1-0). Ryan Wehrle led off the bottom half with a walk and Chris Colton followed on another free pass by Dustin Pease (1-0), the scheduled game three starter. Danny Sawyer, after fouling off two bunt attempts, was hit by a 1-2 pitch to load the bases with nobody out. Jorge Gutierrez collected his fourth hit of the night with a single to left to tie it up at six. After a Josh Banda flyout in foul territory, Scott Houin lined a deep single against the drawn in outfield in center for the 7-6 walk-off victory.

The ThunderBolts (0-1) took two separate leads in the contest, their first was on a Robert Perry home run in the fifth off Josh Lowey to put the Bolts ahead 5-4. It marked the end of five unanswered runs by Windy City after the Rascals went up 4-0. Dan Jordan tied it up at four in the fourth with a three run home run over the bullpen in right centerfield.

River City jumped out to a 4-0 advantage on a three run blast of their own against Matt Jernstad. Colton, Sawyer and Gutierrez all singled with Colton gunned out at home by Scarduzio to keep the game scoreless. Banda followed on the first pitch with a line drive just over the short wall in right for a 3-0 lead. Chad Maddox doubled three batters later after JoJo Batten walked with two outs for the fourth Rascal run.

Josh Lowey went the first six for River City, allowing five runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts and three walks. The bullpen went the final six innings, surrendering only one run on four hits with two more punchouts.

Jernstad went seven strong frames allowing five runs on ten hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Pease was the loser in game one, recording only one and surrendering two runs on two hits with two walks and a hit batter.

Houin not only won the game in the 12th, but tied it up at five with a two out triple in the sixth. The right fielder finished 2-5 with two knocked in and two walks. Gutierrez was 4-6 with two runs scored and one RBI. Maddox, Sawyer and Colton all had multi-hit games as well for the Rascals.

River City heads into game two needing two more wins over Windy City to advance to the championship. Jake Laber (9-4) will take the ball against Ross Stout (13-5) tomorrow in O'Fallon. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.

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