Hoots Drops Series Opener Against Springfield

Long Hits Third Home Run in Two Days

O’FALLON, MO- The O’Fallon Hoots hosted the playoff-bound Springfield Lucky Horseshoes on Friday, August 4 at CarShield Field. A two-game series with Springfield to end the 2023 regular season. The Hoots fell behind early in the ballgame as Springfield scored eight runs in the first two innings and held onto their lead, defeating O’Fallon 8-3.

Inside the Box Score 

• Jake Vitale and Micahel Long each hit a home run
• Long picks up his third home run in just two nights
• Blake Bax tosses five scoreless innings in relief, striking out five batters.

How it Happened

• Springfield jumped ahead in the top of the first inning with five runs. Brandon Hagen drove in the first run on an RBI single, William Zareh picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice ground out, and Anthony Stellato doubled to bring home a run before Chris Kustigian drove in the final two runs on a single.
• The Hoots responded with a run of their own in the home half of the first as Drew Mize scored on an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Zach Beatty.
• The Lucky Horshoes struck for three more runs in the top of the second inning. Dawson Johns began the scoring with an RBI double, Zareh grounded into another fielder’s choice for an RBI and finally, Jacob Hager hit an RBI sacrifice fly out to center field, bringing the score to 8-1 in favor of Springfield.
• Vitale brought the score to 8-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, on a solo home run to right center.
• As the Hoots tried to mount a comeback effort in the bottom of the ninth inning, Long drove a solo home run to make it 8-3, but that was all the Hoots were able to get.

Up Next

The Hoots wrap up their 2023 season on Saturday, August 8 against this Springfield Lucky Horseshoes squad. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CST, and coverage can be found at ofallonhoots.com, as well as the team’s Twitter (@ofallonbaseball) and Instagram (ofallonhoots).