Squirrels offense explodes in 19-9 win

Friday, June 11, 2010
Charleston's Cody Rice slides in under the tag of Chaffee's Jared Walker on Thursday night in Charleston. Backing up the play is Chaffee's Alex Crowe. The Squirrels defeated Chaffee 19-9. (Photo by Brent Shipman, Staff)

Charleston scores 12 in final two innings to top Chaffee

sd_sports@yahoo.com

CHARLESTON -- Overcoming an early four-run deficit Thursday evening the Charleston Fighting Squirrels rallied for 12 runs in the last innings to beat the visiting Chaffee Red Devils 19-9 in six innings on the mercy rule.

"We swung the bats well," Charleston's Ethan Browning said. "Our defense lagged a couple of innings, but we knew when we swing the bats like that the game goes well for us."

The Squirrels got off to a bumpy start as starting pitcher Jesse Schott gave up three runs on five walks and hit to allow the Red Devils.

After Charleston's offense hammered out four runs in the bottom of the frame, Chaffee would counter with four of their own in the top of the second off three walks and three hits including a two-run triple by Jared Walker.

Chaffee would score another run in the third with Chris Payne crossing the plate on a grounder to give the Red Devils their biggest lead of the night at 8-4.

Closing the gap the Squirrels scored three more in the two frames with Chaffee adding one in the top of the fifth to make it a 9-7 ball game.

Charleston's bats then made up for whatever problems their pitching was having earlier in the game, combing for eight hits and three walks to score five runs in the fifth and seven in the sixth.

"We came out strong, but toward the end they started hitting," Chaffee's Alex Davie said. "We couldn't come out of that hole."

The Squirrels put the capper on the game when, with Tyler Whybark at second and two outs after a double, Trey Watkins hits a fly ball to right field.

Chaffee's right fielder, after initially getting his glove on the ball, lost control dropping it to the ground, allowing Whybark to score the Squirrels' 19th run ending the game on the 10-run mercy rule.

"Errors and walks usually kill a lot of teams and we had plenty of those," Red Devil's coach Joe Bickings said. "If we limit those we win this ball game, but that's baseball and that happens."

Coming in to relieve Schott in the second, Marshall Stallings picked up the win. He went 3 2/3 frames allowing two runs on two hits and no walks while striking out three.

"I felt like I was throwing the ball pretty well," Stallings said. "I hadn't pitched in awhile, but I stopped the bleeding a little bit."

In all Charleston (3-7) had eight players combine for 13 hits including five doubles. Stallings Zach Rowland, Schott, Dustin Brister and Whybark all tied for the team lead with two hits apiece.

"I'm proud of the way the guys battled back," Squirrels' coach Matt Bucher said. "They definitely put the bat on the ball. When that happens good things happen."

Davie took the loss for Chaffee (2-6). He went five innings giving up 12 runs on 10 hits while striking out three.

"I felt great at first, but didn't get a few calls here and there and they started hitting my stuff," Davie said. "The offense was there today, but the pitching and defense wasn't."

The Red Devils offense came away with six hits the game with Chris Payne leading the team going 2-for-3. They also drew nine walks.

Chaffee 341 010 - 9

Charleston 402 157 - 19

WP -- Marshall Stallings. LP -- Alex Davie. Multiple hitters -- (CF) Cody Payne 2-3; (CH) Marshall Stallins 2-4, Zach Rowland 2-2, Jesse Schott 2-3, Dustin Brister 2-3, Tyler Whybark 2-4. 2B -- (CH) Stallings, Schott, Ethan Browning, Sam Johnson, Whybark. 3B -- (CF) Jared Walker.

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