ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Kenosha Kingfish (1-1) fell 10-9 to the Rockford Rivets (1-1) on Thursday afternoon at Rivets Stadium on a walk off.
RHP David Luethje (Florida) started for the Kingfish and struck out nine batters. Luethje pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits and four walks.
Rivets starter RHP Brad Littleton (Lewis) pitched 5 1/3 innings giving up four runs on five hits and four walks.
RHP Sultan Solebo got the win for the Rivets pitching one-third of an inning in relief.
RHP Tanner Fallon (Loras College) blew the save in the bottom of the ninth and got the loss pitching two-thirds of an inning and allowing two runs on three hits.
The Rivets scored first with four runs on three triples in the opening three innings and led 4-0 into the fourth.
Kenosha cut the lead in half on a two RBI single by LF Charles Middleton (Sierra College) in the top of the fourth.
The Kingfish tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth on RBI singles by DH Mike Jarvis (San Diego State) and RF Zach Nogalski (UW – Milwaukee).
Rockford retook the lead 6-4 with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Helwig walked in a run while 1B Cam McDonald (Illinois) drove in the sixth Rockford run on an RBI single.
The Rivets tacked on two more runs in the eighth on one hit and three walks for an 8-4 lead.
The Kingfish would not go quietly and battled back with five runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead 9-8.
One of the two hits came from C Luke Stephenson (Xavier). Stephenson picked up his first hit as a Kingfish on a two RBI double into the left field corner at Rivets Stadium.
Middleton drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game 8-8 while Mitchell Buban (UW – Milwaukee) entered the game as a pinch runner in the top of the ninth.
Buban scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch putting the Kingfish up by one run.
However, the Rivets battled back in the bottom of the ninth scoring two runs for the 10-9 win.
2B Easton Murrell (Texas Tech) tied the game on an RBI single while LF Matt Higgins drove in the winning run on a single to left field.
The Kingfish return to Simmons Field on Friday to face the Lakeshore Chinooks at 6:35 p.m. CT.
