A makeup game originally scheduled for June 5th forced the Gary Southshore RailCats and Sioux City Explorers into a doubleheader at The Steel Yard which ended in a split as the ‘Cats took game one 7-3, and the X’s grabbed game two 2-0.
Though the Explorers took an early 1-0 lead on three singles in the second inning of game one, the RailCats answered back in the third as eight batters came to the plate. Alec Olund stole home to get the offense started after Javeyan Williams singled him over to third following his leadoff hit. Later in the inning, Michael Cruz singled both Williams and Zach Welz in to put the ‘Cats up 3-1.
A two-run cushion proved insufficient, however, as the Explorers fired back for a pair of their own in the fifth inning on a Gabe Snyder single and wild pitch.
Despite surrendering their lead, the ‘Cats remained calm and regained their lead thanks to a four-run offensive explosion.
Zach Racusin’s RBI triple that brought Cruz home proved to be the game-winning hit, but Alec Olund’s RBI single and a pair of sacrifice flies from Williams and Michael Woodworth added late insurance.
The bullpen tandem of Josh Vincent and Carlos Vega combined for three innings of scoreless ball while allowing just two baserunners to hammer down the win.
RailCats bats went dormant in game two as they could not muster a run against a trio of Sioux City arms.
Adam Heidenfelder provided a masterful pitching performance to keep the “Cats in the contest as he tossed 5.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight Explorers.
Daniel Lingua and Jackson Smith each tallied a base hit, outdone only by Michael Woodworth’s two singles.
Both teams will be back in action tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at The Steel Yard for game three of this four-game series. All the action will be streamed on www.aabaseball.tv, 95.9 WEFM, and the Gary SouthShore RailCats Broadcast Network on the Mixlr app.
