Schobel’s Four Hits Leads Kernels Over Lansing 6-3

Lansing, MI – After a flyout to begin his night, Tanner Schobel went 4-4 the rest of the way, notching three RBI, including the game-winner, to help the Kernels clinch their fifth series win of the season in a 6-3 victory over Lansing Saturday night.

Christian MacLeod made his second start of the season for Cedar Rapids after going one inning in his first appearance of the season. After a scoreless first inning, Lansing got to MacLeod and on the board in the second. A leadoff walk and a bunt single put runners on the corners with one out, the next batter Danny Batustia then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Lugnuts the early 1-0 advantage.

Lansing extended that lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Johnny Butler smashed his third solo home run of the series to put the Lugnuts ahead by two, which was the score after three innings.

Cedar Rapids got on the board and tied the game in the top of the fourth. After Schobel picked up the first Kernels hit of the night, Kala’i Rosario smashed his third home run in as many nights, his second straight two-run shot, to even the game at 2-2.

That remained the score until the bottom of the fifth when Lansing hopped back out in front. With Malik Barrington on the mound, Sahid Valenzuela led off the inning with a single, and two batters later, Daniel Susac drove him home with an RBI double to give the Lugnuts the 3-2 advantage.

The Kernels entered the top of the seventh in that 3-2 hole but erased the deficit on one swing. Ben Ross led off the inning by smacking his third home run of the series, over the left field wall to make it tied again at 3-3. Then after Noah Miller reached on a fielder's choice, a hit-by-pitch and a walk loaded the bases with two outs for Schobel, who struck a single into the outfield to give Cedar Rapids its first lead of the night at 5-3.

Schobel struck again in the top of the ninth inning, with that same 5-3 score, the infielder delivered another two-out RBI to give the Kernels some breathing room setting the score at 6-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Miguel Rodriguez came on and slammed the door, allowing just a lone walk to pick up his sixth save of the season in the Cedar Rapids 6-2 victory.

The win cliches the Kernels' fifth series victory of the season and places the team at 29-21, again a season-best eight games over .500. The six-game set in Lansing (22-28) wraps up tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 with Zebby Matthews making his high-A debut opposite Christian Fernandez