Careswell Homers Twice As Cape Beats O'Fallon 3-2

FROM CAPE:

O'FALLON, Mo. - For the second straight game, the Catfish could muster just four hits Wednesday night, but two of them were home runs by first baseman Cam Careswell, accounting for all three of Cape's runs in a 3-2 road win over the O'Fallon Hoots.

The win evened Cape's record at four wins and four loses one week into the 2022 season. Meanwhile, their loss dropped the Hoots three games under the .500 mark with a record of 2-5.

Careswell, a sophomore at the University of Missouri from Lee's Summit, knocked a solo shot over the right field fence in the fourth inning followed by a two-run round-tripper in the sixth inning. They were his first home runs of the season.

Catfish starting pitcher Hunter Ralls - a native of Anna, Illinois, entering his senior year at Southeast Missouri State University - allowed seven hits and one run while striking out three and walking one over six innings to earn the win in his first start of the season.

Cape reliever Marshall Brown, a lefty from Kennett who's attending Arkansas Tech, gave up two hits and one unearned run in the two innings he pitched. Noah Burkey, a second-year student at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the save.

"Ralls had a really good start for us and Careswell came through with his two home runs," said Catfish field manager Stephen Larkin when asked about the keys to Wednesday night's win. "Brown also threw well and Burkey closed the door. Overall, it was a good win for us."

Wednesday night's line score was three runs on four hits and three errors for the Catfish. The Hoots had two runs on 10 hits while committing one miscue in the field.

The Catfish continue their road trip Thursday against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m.