By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters gave up four runs in the ninth to give up a lead and fall to the Traverse City Beach Bums 7-4 on Wednesday night at the Corn Crib.
The Beach Bums led off the game with a double from Marcos Derkes, who advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jose Vargas.
In the top of the third, Patrick Kendall grabbed another leadoff hit with a single and was advanced to second on a groundout by Jeff DeBlieux. Derkes blasted his second double of the night to centerfield to score Kendall from second. Ryan Bottger continued the inning with a single to put runners at the corners. Vargas flew out to left field to plate Derkes to put the score at 3-0 Beach Bums.
The Belters struck up their offense in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff single from Solorzano, who moved to second on a wild pitch. Dillon Haupt bounced a single to center to put the Belters on the board. Dylan Kelly added his own two-out single to put runners at first and second.
The comeback effort continued in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out solo homer from Aaron Dudley, followed by a solo homer from Solorzano to tie the game at three. The Belters loaded the bases, but all three runners would be stranded.
Solorzano led off the seventh with single, followed by a double to right from Haupt putting two in scoring position. A sac fly from Meadows scored Solorzano to put the Belters up 4-3.
With the Belters ahead in the ninth, the Beach Bums struck with a double by Christian Santisteban. DeBlieux hit a fly ball to shallow left that would have ended the game, but was dropped by Solorzano to score the runner to tie the game and leave one on. A single from Derkes drove in DeBlieux to put the score at 6-3. A double from Ryan Bottger scored Derkes and gave the Beach Bums a three-run lead. The Belters put two aboard but did not score in the bottom of the ninth.
The winning pitcher was Benjamin Libuda (2-3), who pitched one inning with one hit and one strikeout. The losing pitcher was Francisco Carillo (2-1), who went two thirds of an inning with four hits and four unearned runs.
The series continues Thursday night in Normal with the rubber match at 6:35 p.m.
