Beloit Takes Back Series Edge and Beats Cubs 9-1

South Bend, IN - In a winding and weaving series between two Midwest League West Division foes, the Beloit Sky Carp once again have the edge over the South Bend Cubs this week after an offensive onslaught on Thursday night. The Sky Carp plated six runs in the 5th inning, and took the 9-1 final and have won two of the first three games.

After South Bend shutout Beloit on Wednesday 8-0, the Sky Carp came ready to play on Thursday as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings against starter Richard Gallardo. The big right-hander was South Bend’s Opening Day starter and pitched five shutout innings in his lone previous start.

Gallardo worked a scoreless first frame, but the Sky Carp got to him in the 2nd. Thanks to a double by Davis Bradshaw, and an RBI groundout by Bennett Hostetler, Beloit was on the board first.

It was a gorgeous night in South Bend in the high 70s and very sunny. The wind was breezing out towards center field, but Beloit starter Evan Fitterer was the story on the mound. The tall right-hander fired seven strong innings with only a run allowed, with a walk and eight strikeouts.

At the plate, the Beloit lineup backed up Fitterer’s effort and scored six big runs in the bottom of the 5th. That featured back-to-back home runs smacked by Yiddi Cappe and Zach Thompson.

The lone run that Fitterer surrendered came on a long blast off the bat of Haydn McGeary. The big bodied first baseman crushed his first homer with the South Bend Cubs to get the Cubs on the board in the bottom of the 7th.

Out of the bullpen, Jarod Wright pitched at Four Winds Field for the first time in 2023 and tossed three innings of one run baseball.

With the loss, the Cubs fall to 4-2 and have a chance to tie the series again Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM, with lefty Luke Little taking the ball for South Bend