RiverHawks rally falls short
July 18, 2005 - Frontier League (FL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
O'FALLON, Mo. - It was an uphill climb for the RiverHawks all night long, and in the end Rockford couldn't reach the top.
The River City Rascals never trailed in the game after jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, and beat the âHawks, 6-5, in the series opener.
Rockford scored three times in the eighth inning to come within a run at 6-5. With two on and one out, Ryan Larson hit an RBI single, which was followed by Gooby Gerlits' two-run double. Matt Sauls, a late-inning substitution for leadoff hitter Jeremy Busch, then popped up, stranding the tying run at second base.
But Rockford's best opportunities came in the fifth and sixth innings. After Brian Baron grounded out to lead off the fifth, the âHawks had four straight hits to tie the game at 2-2 and load the bases with one out. Winning pitcher Jon Kars (2-0) then entered the game and got Nick Johnson to hit into his second double play of the night. The outfielder was 0-for-5 in his debut with the RiverHawks after being traded from Windy City on Sunday night as part of a five-player deal.
In the sixth, the âHawks found themselves in the same situation: bases loaded and just one out. This time Kars got Larson to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Mike Connor hit a two-run homer in the first off Rockford starter Frank James (0-1), who took the loss after throwing 4 1/3 innings and giving up three runs, two earned, on just three hits.
River City broke out for three runs in the seventh, two of them coming on a two-out single by Mikela Olsen.
The RiverHawks continue their series at River City 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. Wednesday's series finale is a special start time with first pitch at 12:05 p.m. The 'Hawks are the defending champions of the Frontier League, a 12-team independent professional baseball league in its 13th season. All games are broadcasted live on WRHL-FM, 102.3 - the Hub.
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