Gamecocks Get Four Runs in the Ninth to Beat the Cubs

Yesterday afternoon, the Humboldt-Hartford Gamecocks traveled to Salem to take on the Cubs in a matchup that was decided in the final inning. 

The Gamecocks got the game started with two runs in the opening inning, with lead-off batter Cam Quigley who tripled on the first pitch of the game, scoring the first run. Chad Morrison then scored for the Gamecocks in the top of the third, bringing the score up to 3-0 before Salem got on the board.

Cubs answered Morrison’s run with three of their own in the bottom of the third, with Cole Cheeseman’s RBI Double helping to get Salem their first run of the game. 

No team scored for three innings, until the Cubs got two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, thanks in part to another RBI from Cheeseman bringing in Trevor Wilkinson. 

The Cubs ended the seventh with a 5-3 lead, and after neither team scored in the eighth it appeared the Cubs had done enough to secure a victory. That turned out to not be the case though, with a strong ninth inning from the Gamecocks. 

The first three batters for the Gamecocks in the ninth each brought in runs, in large part thanks to a 2 RBI Double from Broc Heldeman. By the end of the inning, the Gamecocks had tallied up four runs in the ninth. After being down two runs heading into the inning, the Gamecocks now held a two run advantage. 

Salem had one last chance to either tie or win the game, and it looked like they might be able to, with three batters hitting singles and Bobby Koepsell bringing in a run. However, the Cubs were unable to score any more runs, and lost at home to the Humboldt-Hartford Gamecocks 7-6. 

Leading the way for the Gamecocks was Heldeman, who had four RBI’s on two hits, while also bringing in a run. Kyle Bailey had two RBI’s on two hits and also was able to get a run. Joe Hanisch scored two runs for the Gamecocks on one hit, and other players to get a run were Quigley, Morrison, and Seth Cavanaugh.

Cole Berthel gets the win for the Gamecocks after registering one strikeout in seven innings pitched, and also giving up five hits, three runs, and two errors. 

For the Cubs, Cheeseman had a strong performance with two hits, three RBI’s, and a run. Tyler Earls also had two hits and an RBI. Other players to get runs for the Cubs were Koepsell and Issac Anderson, each getting one run on one hit, and Trevor Wilkinson bringing in two runs. Kyle Tuschen also had a hit and an RBI.

On the mound for Salem, Luke Loudenberg struck out four batters, while giving up four hits, three runs, and an error. 

Salem will be back at home this Thursday against the Flandreau Cardinals, while the Gamecocks stay on the road when they travel up to Madison to take on the Broncos.