Clohisy blasts Sixth Home Run, Hoots fall to River Dragons 8-7 in 10

The Alton River Dragons (14-10) made the short trip down to O’Fallon for a pivotal Prairie Land division matchup on Sunday evening. After the Hoots (14-11) grabbed a win in Alton on Thursday evening, the River Dragons looked to return the favor in Missouri. 

Jackson Hickert (University of Akron) made his Hoots debut on the mound for O’Fallon. Added to the roster prior to the first pitch, Hickert threw 63 pitches, completed three innings, and struck out four River Dragon hitters. 

Patrick Clohisy (Saint Louis University) leads the O’Fallon Hoots (14-11) in hits, batting average, home runs, and RBIs. The reigning Prospect League Slugger of the Week continued his hot play with a fourth-inning blast off of Alton’s Colton Huntt (Freed Hardeman University) that hit off the roof of the locker room in right-center field at CarShield Field. The big fly tied up the ball game at one run apiece. 

Blane Besse (Missouri Baptist) added on the fourth inning success for the Hoots. His RBI single scored Will Doherty (Missouri Southern) to give the home team a 2-1 edge. 

Alton would tack on two runs in each of the fifth and sixth frames, giving them a 5-2 advantage. Colton Huntt pitched six and a third innings struck out three batters and allowed just two runs. 

O’Fallon chipped away at the Alton lead as the game progressed. Noah Fisher (Northern Kentucky University) clubbed an RBI double in the seventh inning, scoring Kaden Byrne (Drury University). Cole Robinson (Missouri Southern) ripped a ball down the left field line an inning later, which scored Cade Hohl (Purdue). 

When all seemed lost for the Hoots in the bottom of the ninth, down by three runs, they continued to battle at the dish. Starting with an Andy Bunton (Maryville) double, the big blow was the game-tying home run off the bat of Colin Bergmann (Saint Louis University). The dramatic blast brought the game into extra innings, before the Hoots fell in the 10th. 

Following the loss, Alton jumps into first place in the Prairie Land division by a half game over the Hoots. The two clubs will face off head to head for two games next weekend in Alton. The Hoots will be in action again on Wednesday for a double header against the Quincy Gems. Tickets are available online or at the CarShield Field box office.