LOVES PARK (WREX) -
The Rockford RiverHawks overcame an early 7-0 deficit and hung on to beat the Normal CornBelters 10-9 Friday night in the series finale at RiverHawks Stadium.
The RiverHawks scored five times in the third inning to cut the CornBelters' lead to 7-5. Trailing 8-5 in the bottom inning, they put up their second five-run inning of the contest as Mike Thomas broke out of a 0-for-16 slump by delivering a game-tying, three-run double off Josh Joseph (1-4), who picked up the loss . Ted Obregon delivered with a two-out, go-ahead base hit to give Rockford its first lead of the game. Obregon later scored on a Joseph balk to give the RiverHawks a 10-8 lead.
Andrew Armstrong (2-2) picked up the win in relief for Rockford.
Normal scored in the ninth inning off closer Garrett Granitz on an RBI single by Ty Wiesemeyer to close to 10-9, and the CornBelters loaded the bases with two outs. Granitz picked up his seventh save, retiring Steven Felix on a line out to left field to end the game and give the RiverHawks a split in the four-game set.
Normal got on the board in the first inning as Ernie Banks Jr. hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Bobby Rinard. In the second inning, the CornBelters began the inning with four consecutive hits to go ahead 3-0. Rockford starter Brad Schnitzer left the game with no outs and runners on first and second base due to an apparent injury. He last just one-plus inning,giving up six hits and five runs.
The CornBelters scored three more times in the frame to go ahead 6-0, and they added a run on a J.B Brown sacrifice fly in the third inning to stretch the lead to 7-0.
Rockford sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom half and scored five runs off starter Tyler Lavigne to cut the lead to 7-5. Javier Herrera hit a two-run single in the inning.
Lavigne settled in and pitched seven-plus innings. He gave up four earned runs on five hits and struck out six, throwing 127 pitches in a no-decision.
Five CornBelters' batters registered multi-hit games, and Normal's 16 hits were a season-high. Ty Wiesemeyer went 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
On June 1 against the London Rippers at RiverHawks Stadium, the RiverHawks erased an early seven-run deficit and won 8-7 in 10 innings on a Jet Butler walk-off home run.
The RiverHawks host the Schaumburg Boomers for a three-game set, beginning at 6:05 p.m. Saturday. In the series opener, Robby Donovan (6-3, 3.68 ERA) takes the mound for Schaumburg, and Rockford counters with Nick Anderson (0-1, 6.00 ERA).
Saturday night is Boy Scout Campout Night and Fireworks Night, sponsored by Edgebrook Primary Eye Care.
