CornBelters avoid sweep on the road

Posted on May 29, 2016

*The Normal CornBelters snapped a seven game losing streak on the road. (Normal CornBelters)*

By Greg Halbleib

O’FALLON, Mo. – The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, scored entirely with three home runs as they broke a seven-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the River City Rascals on Saturday night at CarShield Field.

The Rascals scored in their first at bat for the second straight night as Jason Merjano homered to the short porch in right center field.

The Belters answered with a towering home run to left field in the second inning by Dillon Haupt to tie the game at 1-1.

River Ciity regained the lead in the third inning by loading the bases with nobody out but only plated one run on a sacrifice fly by Josh Ludy for a 2-1 lead. The advantage extended to 3-1 in the fourth inning on a two-out double to right center by Robby Enslen to score Willi Martin, who had doubled with one out.

Normal tied the game quickly in the fifth inning with a line drive home run to left by R.J. Perucki. A two-run homer to right center by Nolan Meadows in the sixth inning sent the Belters ahead 5-3.

Francisco Carillo (1-0) earned the win with 2 2/3 innings of relief. Nick Kennedy (1-1) took the loss, also in relief. Race Parmenter worked the final two innings for his first save.

The road trip concludes on Sunday with a 4:05 p.m. first pitch at CarShield Field. Starting pitchers are yet to be announced. Broadcast time on WJBC.com is 3:50. The Belters take Memorial Day off before beginning a six-game home stand on Tuesday against the Washington Wild Things.

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