Game 14 - Mudcats Outlast South Park In Marathon Game

Quinn Construction put an end to South Park's 26 game winning streak when they finally pushed home the game winner in the bottom of the 11th inning last night. Corey Kuszaj's bases loaded blooper over the drawn in infield brought home Angelo Volomino and sent the finals to a game 3 showdown. Quinn Construction held a 5-1 lead going into the 5th inning. Mudcats starter, Kenny Gault, was cruising until South Park took advantage of an error and scored four unearned runs in the 5th, knotting it up at 5-5. Neither team could push a run across in the 6th or 7th inning as the game went into extra innings. Gault came back out to the mound in the top of the 8th but had to leave the game after he tried to field a Luis Gonzalez comebacker with his bare hand. Brody Simmons relieved Gault and set down three batters in a row to end the inning. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Quinn Construction missed a golden opportunity to finish the game. Jim Pasquine lead off with a walk and Bert Kovalsky was hit by a pitch. Devin Matey pinch hit for Eric Morrison but failed to get a sacrifice bunt down and move the runners. Matey struck out followed by AJ Olasz and Volomino, who also struck out. In the top of the 9th, David Monaco lead off with a walk, but Antonio Carrillo bounced his sacrifice bunt attempt right back to Simmons and Mudcats were able to cut down the lead runner at second. And then the lights went out. After a twenty nine minute delay, the lights were restored and the game resumed. Simmons got Dylan Kugler to pop out to the infield and got Adam Weber to fly out to right to end the top of the 9th. Simmons pitched a perfect 10th and 11th to set the stage for the bottom of the 11th inning. In the bottom half of the 11th, the Mudcats finally were able to get to reliever Christian Hoffmann. Volomino reached base on a wild pitch when he struck out and the ball got by the catcher and back to the wall. Volomino stole his third bag of the game, putting the winning run in scoring position. Logan Simmons laid down a bunt and was ruled safe at first as he beat the throw from the pitcher. Simmons advanced to second with no fielder covering the second base bag. After Chance Satcho walked to load the bases, Zane Griffaton pinch hit for Caden Wills. Griffaton whiffed on a 3-2 fastball for the first out of the inning. Kuszaj faired better as he blooped a hit over the drawn-in infield to send the series back to Evans Field for game three. South Park will send Dylan Pounds to the mound and Quinn Construction will counter with Corry Ryan. The game three showdown at Evans Field will start on Tuesday at 8:00 PM.

Date: July 31, 2023     Time: 6:30pm      Venue: Boyce Mayview Park