Bobcats start dry spell with win

When the Bobcats finally got a break in the weather to return to the field, they returned in grand style, scoring eight times and shutting out Fulton Wednesday at Guess Field.

Marion (11-5, 12-5 overall) has been idle five days due to rainouts both at home and away. In fact, in those five days, six attempts at ballgames have been quashed by Mother Nature. But Wednesday, the bats and arms of the teams seemed to have benefited from the time off, making an almost perfect return to action.

Hall

The Bobcats were efficient at the plate, with their eight runs coming on six hits, while starter Zach Hall with some help from Marion native Alex Wood and the bullpen held the Railroaders to three hits en route to the staff's first shutout of the season. The defense was also flawless in the field, as compared to the four errors committed by Fulton.

The offense exploded for five runs in the second inning, scoring an RBI single by Landon Weitekamp and a grand slam off the bat of A.J. Dokey, his second home run—though initial league home run, with the first shot coming in interleague action—and the first bases-clearing hit this year for the Bobcats. Marion added a run in the third and two more in the sixth.

Hall (2-1) kept Fulton batters guessing all night, striking out 13 in only seven innings pitched, including retiring the side on strikes in the second, fifth and seventh innings. Earning the win, Hall has now struck out 31 batters in 22 innings pitched. His strikeout total was tops in the league at the close of the ballgame.

Wood came on in the eighth, striking out one, and Daniel Szathmary pitched the last frame, setting the Railroaders down in order with two strikeouts and a fly ball. The bullpen didn't allow a hit. All total, Bobcat pitchers fanned 16 Railroaders, a team high for this year.

Dokey's one hit was more than enough for Marion to strengthen their hold on first place, but Cameron Chestnut added two hits and an RBI. Caleb Eickhoff, Desmond Roberts, Taylor Banks and Jake Hirniak also added hits.

Click here for box score.

Tradewater 7, Owensboro 0
The second-place Pirates kept pace with Marion with their own shutout Wednesday, downing Owensboro 7-0. Tradewater (9-9) is three games in back of Marion. Owensboro (8-10) rests at four back and Fulton (7-11) at five.