O,Fallon, MO– The Hoots showed their resiliency on Friday night in a come from behind victory against the Thrillville Thrillbillies, 9-5. They kept the game close until finally exploding for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.
Top Performers:
Carson Ramos- 1-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 Rs
Matthew Rauser- 4-4, 2 RBIs, 1 2B, 1 R
Drew Polittle- 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Ks, 1 BB
How It Happened:
Carson Ramos wasn’t in the starting lineup to begin the day, but ended up being pressed into duty at the last minute. Nursing a sore hamstring, he didn’t have to worry about it when he hit a home run to start off the Hoots scoring in the bottom of the second.
The pitching was good for both teams early on, with Jacob Ross of Thrillville and Drew Polittle of O’Fallon keeping hitters off balance. The Thrillbillies finally got to Drew Politte with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth on some good baserunning and an RBI single by Jerrius Atkinson.
The Hoots responded with a Sam Paule sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 3-2, but the Thrillbillies extended their lead to 4-2 on a double by Hayden Ralls.
The Hoots were rewarded for keeping the game close in the seventh. They scored seven runs, including an RBI single by Brady Vessells, a two-RBI double by Matthew Rauser, and an RBI single by Sam Paule. TJ Costello hit a home run in the top of the ninth, but that is all the Thrillbillies would get as the Hoots took home the victory, 9-5.
The Hoots end the first half on an eight game winning streak. They will take that streak into the second half, which begins with a doubleheader at Normal tomorrow, before they come back home to face the Danville Dans on Sunday.
