Home Runs Power Catfish to Win Over Horseshoes

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - First-of-the-season home runs by a pair of Catfish players helped Cape secure a 6-2 win over the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes Monday night at Capaha Field.

The win boosted Cape's record to 18-28, 6-9 in the second half of the Prospect League season, while Springfield's record fell to 20-29, 9-9 in the second half.

Cape posted three runs in the first inning when Catfish second baseman John Bolton (John A. Logan College) was hit by a pitch, catcher Ty Stauss (Southeast Missouri State) walked, and SEMO teammate Josh Cameron, playing left field for the Fish, sent a ball over the right field fence for his first home run of the season, making the score 3-0.

The Catfish added a fourth run in the fourth inning when Lane Crowden (Three Rivers Community College) also hit a solo home run, his first of the year, over the left field wall.

Springfield got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth when designated hitter Brandon Hagar from Arkansas State and right fielder Dawson Johns from Reinhardt University hit back-to-back doubles. Johns subsequently scored on an error by Catfish third baseman Danny Sperling (SEMO State), just his fifth error of the season.

The Catfish regained their two-run lead in their half of the sixth when center fielder Chris Hall from Florida State College at Jacksonville drove in his 18th and 19th runs of the year with an RBI single to right field making the score 6-2 after six.

Cape made several spectacular fielding plays that likely prevented some Springfield runs including diving catches by Hall and right fielder Dalton Rudd (Western Kentucky University).

Catfish starter Marshall Brown from Arkansas Tech, making his 13th appearance and fourth start of the season, got the win to even his record at 3-3. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six Horseshoes and walking none. Springfield's starter, Brandon Morris from Shawnee Community College, appearing in his first game for the Shoes, took the loss. He lasted three innings, giving up four runs on four hits while hitting two batters, issuing two walks and striking out none.

Catfish relievers Austin Brock (Arkansas State) and Colin Bryant (West Virginia State) pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, allowing just one Springfield batter to reach base on a walk issued by Brock.

The Catfish are off Tuesday and will travel to Normal, Illinois, Wednesday for a doubleheader against the Normal Cornbelters with the first game slated for a 5 p.m. start.