Kernels Break Tie with 4-Run 8th Inning, Top Dragons 8-4

Cedar Rapids 8, Dragons 4

Click here for the box score

Cedar Rapids (R-H-E): 8-7-0; Dayton (R-H-E): 4-6-2

Win: Kyle Bishoff (1-1); Loss: Joseph Menefee (0-1); Save: None.

HR: Dayton: None Cedar Rapids: Luke Keaschall (1st, 0 on base in first inning).

Cedar Rapids, Iowa—The Cedar Rapids Kernels broke a 4-4 tie with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and went on to defeat the Dayton Dragons 8-4 on Thursday night. The Kernels have won two straight against the Dragons after Dayton won the series opener on Tuesday.

The Dragons trailed 4-1 with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the eighth inning before rallying to tie the game. After Yan Contreras was hit by a pitch, Ethan O’Donnell reached on an infield single and Sal Stewart lined a double to the left field fence to drive in both runners and make it 4-3. Cam Collier followed with a line drive single through the middle to bring in Stewart and tie the game.

But Cedar Rapids produced four runs in the bottom of the eighth, delivering three key hits in the inning while also taking advantage of a walk and a hit batsman to take an 8-4 lead. The Dragons did not score in the ninth.

Dayton finished with six hits including two each by O’Donnell, Stewart, and Collier. Collier has at least one hit in each of the Dragons six games. He began the day ranked in a tie for second in the Midwest League in runs batted in and added two more to his total.

It was a tough night for the Dayton bullpen as Dragons relievers combined to allow seven runs in four innings. The Dayton starter, Kevin Able, pitched well, working four innings and allowing one run on just two hits with one walk and six strikeouts, getting most of his outs on change-ups and sliders.

Up Next: The Dragons (3-3) will battle the Kernels (2-3) in the fourth game of the six-game series in Cedar Rapids on Friday night at 7:35 pm (EDT). Rhett Lowder (0-0, 0.00) will make his second professional start after tossing four scoreless innings for the Dragons in the season opener on April 5. John Klein will start for Cedar Rapids. The series continues through Sunday.

The Dragons next home game at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District is Tuesday, April 16 against the Fort Wayne TinCaps. For ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.

On the Air: All Dragons home and road games are broadcast on radio on FOX Sports 980 AM WONE. Games can be heard on smart phones, iPads, and other mobile devices via the free Dragons Mobile App, or on a computer at wone.com. Games are also available on HD Radio on 104.7 WTUI HD 2.