Squirrels rally to down in-town rival Riverdogs 6-3

sports@standard-democrat.com

CHARLESTON -- In their final tuneup before the playoffs, the Charleston Fighting Squirrels took down the Charleston Riverdogs 6-3 in a nine-inning contest on Tuesday.

"We played one of our better games," Squirrels head coach Michael Minner said. "We played pretty well defensively and our pitching was outstanding. We threw nine guys and they were all good. We swung that bats a little bit too.

"Hopefully all the work we've put in pays off come state tournament time later this week."

The Riverdogs actually out-hit the Squirrels 10-9, but it was a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh that proved to be the deciding factor.

A two-run fourth from the Riverdogs knotted things up in the top of the fourth and the two teams headed into the fateful seventh tied 3-3.

After holding off a Riverdog threat in the top of the inning, the Squirrels got to work in the home half with back-to-back one-out singles from Luke Haines and Tim Fox.

With two outs and runners on first and third, Austin Aldridge lined a hit up the middle to plate what ended up being the game-winning run. A pop fly to shallow centerfield with the bases loaded later in the inning was dropped to score another two run to make up the final.

"The Squirrels situationally were better than us tonight," Riverdog head coach Paul Sander said. "When they got men on base they found a way to get some type of hit or errors from us. We had men all over the bases and din't get it done."

Compounding matters for the Riverdogs was a lost opportunity in the top of the inning where they had Patrick Shuff and Tyler Anderson led of the frame with two straight hits.

A one-out walk loaded the bases, but what followed was Squirrel pitcher Ty Householder striking out consecutive batters to end the threat.

"The inning before their rally is where it was lost for us," Sander said. "We had bases loaded, one out and struck out twice. You can expect for a good time like the Squirrels to come out and get you if you don't score there."

After leaving the seventh with the lead the Squirrels sent Brad Potts to the mound in the eighth, where he sent the Riverdogs down in order. Cody Payne pitched the ninth and following a leadoff single struck out three straight, all swinging, to end the game.

At the plate the Squirrels were led by Fox's 3 for 4 effort in which he collected a triple and scored two runs. Both Haines and Householder doubles with Haines also scoring a run.

For the Riverdogs, Spencer Sander was 3 for 3 with an RBI and run scored. He was also hit by a pitch to reach in all four appearances.

Seth Childers was 3 for 4 with two doubles and two runs scored while Tyler Anderson had two hits, including a double, and two RBI.

The win leaves the Squirrels at 30-15 with the Riverdogs falling to 8-9.

Up next, the Squirrels will host the Senior Babe Ruth Missouri State Tournament starting Thursday and running through Tuesday. They'll open against the Arch City Sidewinders on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.

Riverdogs 010 200 000 - 3

Squirrels 111 000 00x - 6

WP -- Ty Householder. LP -- Alex Beussink. Multiple hitters: (R) Seth Childers 3-4, Spencer Sander 3-3, Tyler Anderson 2-4; (S) Tim Fox 3-4. 2B -- (R) Childers 2, Anderson; (S) Luke Haines, Ty Householder. 3B -- Fox.