Catfish, Gems Split Doubleheader

Courtesy of the Cape Catfish:

QUINCY, Ill. – The Catfish split a doubleheader with the Quincy Gems Sunday, dropping game one 5-1, but salvaging the nightcap by a score of 8-1.

Cape fell behind early in the first game when Catfish starter Jordan Zuger (Belmont University) surrendered a second-inning double to Missouri State University freshman Drew Townsend which drove in Lucas Loos (John Wood Community College) and Gabe Swansen (University of Nebraska) making the score 2-0 at the end of two.

The Catfish answered in the top of the third when J.D. Ortiz (SIU-Carbondale) picked up his team-leading 20th RBI on the season, driving in Blake Barton (Belmont) and cutting the Quincy lead in half.

But the Gems' Swansen picked up a pair of RBI in the bottom half of the third when he connectected with his fourth long ball of the season. Quincy added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Catfish reliever Brayden Polzien (Buena Vista University) balked, allowing Nolan Wosman from nearby Quincy University to score the Gems' fifth and final run.

Gems' starter Ryan Reyerson (Iowa Western Community College) tossed the first six innings of the seven-inning game, allowing four Catfish hits and one run to earn the win, bringing his record to 3-1. Zuger's record fell to 0-5. He allowed four hits and four runs while striking out six in his five innings of work.

Cape outhit Quincy in the first game, 5-4, and had the game's only error.

In the nightcap, Quincy again got on the scoreboard first when Gems' catcher Jonathan Latham (Indiana University at Kokomo) doubled to right center and scored when Loos, the next batter, singled.

The Catfish then scored eight unanswered runs – two in the third inning and three each in the fourth and fifth innings – to take an 8-1 lead. Highlighting the Catfish scoring barrage was a two-run homer by Dante Zamudio (West Virginia State University); a solo homer off the bat of Andrew Sharp (West Virginia State University); and a two-run homer down the right field line by Ty Stauss (Southeast Missouri State) which also scored Lane Crowden (Three Rivers Community College) who preceded Stauss' homer with a triple.

A trio of Catfish pitchers – starter Griffin Lohman (Purdue) and relievers Colin Bryant (West Virginia State University) and Stephen Pursley (Drury University) – allowed a total of six Quincy hits and one run while striking out eight and walking three. Ryan Foley (John Wood Community College) was the Quincy starter and took the loss bringing his 2022 season record to 0-2.

Cape's record is 9-16 following the doubleheader split while Quincy is one game above the .500 mark at 13-12.

The Catfish are off Monday and Tuesday. They'll return to action Wednesday when the LumberKings from Clinton, Iowa, come to Cape Girardeau for the first of two games at Capaha Field. Gametime Wednesday is 6:35 p.m.