Joliet falls in close game two

JOLIET, IL – The Slammers looked to put a win on the board tonight to tie the series with Florence. Joliet sent Righty Cam Aufderheide to the mound to kick off the game. Two runs in the top of the ninth proved to be the difference in the ballgame as the win would fall just out of the Slammers’ grasp.

Tonight’s game was a true pitchers duel as the Slammers and Y’alls both sent their best to the mound to hold one another at bay. A run in the top of the fifth would give the Y’alls an early 1-0 lead with Jackson Pritchard crossing the plate on a 1-3 ground out for Joe Lytle.

Joliet sent Keon Taylor to the mound in the top of the seventh to relieve Aufderheide. Aufderheide would face 26 batters and only surrender one run. Taylor would later be relieved an inning later by Mario Samuel. Samuel would also only see one inning on the mound before Trevor Charpie took charge of the hill in the top of the ninth inning.

A mostly scoreless game seemed to be on the plate this evening until the ninth inning when the bats came alive for both teams. The Y’alls scored two more runs bringing their lead to 3-0 in the top of the inning. Jackson Pritchard would score an unearned run for Florence due to an error by Bylie Ware at third base. Trevor Craport would cross the plate for the Y’alls in a bold steal-second-steal-home move.

In the bottom of the ninth there was a spark in the bats of Joliet. The bases were loaded  as Tyler Depreta-Johnson came up to the plate. Depreta-Johnson made it to first on a fielder’s choice as Braxton Davidson crossed the plate giving Joliet their first and only run of the game. The tally in the ninth was 3-1, but it seemed to be too little too late for Joliet as Dylan Hardy lined out to right field for the final out. The Slammers fell short of the victory losing 3-1.

The Slammers remain on a cold streak after tonight’s loss. Joliet’s record is now 13-19 on the season.

The final home game of the series will take place on Sunday, July 4th at 6:05 p.m, to be followed by Independence Day themed fireworks.  After the home game tomorrow, the Slammers will head on the road to play Evansville and Southern Illinois.

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