Bandits Split Twin Bill in Beloit

The Quad Cities River Bandits split their Thursday doubleheader with the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field. They were shut out by Rafael Kelly and Eric Mariñez in a 2-0 loss in the first game before bouncing back with an 8-6 win the nightcap.
The River Bandits (41-22) were done in by a couple of solo home runs in the fifth inning of the opening game. The contest was scoreless entering the frame and Bandits starter Cody Deason had allowed just one hit to that point. With one out, Anthony Churlin worked the count full before turning on a fastball for a solo home run to left center that gave Beloit a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Devin Foyle hooked a solo home run of his own down the right field line to double the lead. The home runs were the first of the year for both Snappers.
Deason took the loss after working 5.2 innings and allowing four hits while striking out six. The two home runs were just the second and third of the season allowed by the right-hander. 

The Bandits were limited to just three hits in the contest, all of them singles.
In the nightcap, Beloit (26-39) again took the first lead with a crooked number. They pushed across four runs in the bottom of the second inning against starter R.J. Freure. Two RBI doubles, a walk, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly did the damage as the Bandits fell in an early hole.
The deficit didn't last long, with River Bandits responding with six runs in the top of the next frame. Orlando Marquez opened the inning with a double down the left field line and was driven home immediately on a single by Michael Wielansky. After a walk to Ross Adolph, Austin Dennis grounded to third for the first out of the inning. Jeremy Pena also grounded out, allowing runners to advance to second and third with two outs. Alex McKenna took advantage with a two-run single that trimmed the deficit to 4-3. A walk by Ruben Castro extended the inning and allowed Freudis Nova to tie the game with his base hit. Before the frame came to a close, David Hensley cleared the bases with a double off the glove of the left fielder Foyle.
Adolph expanded the lead to 7-4 by blasting a solo home run to right center in the first at bat of the fourth inning. The long ball was his fourth of the campaign.
The Snappers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the fourth, chasing Freure in the process. Jonathan Bermudez came out of the bullpen and immediately allowed one run to score with a wild pitch. Churlin drove in another with a line drive to left that brought Beloit within 7-6. The tying run was still at third with one out, but Bermudez stranded him there with a line out and a strikeout. The Bandits scored the final run of the game on a Pena single to right that drove in Adolph and made it 8-6.
McKenna, in his return from the injured list, finished with two hits. Nova and Hensley also tallied multiple hits in the contest. Nova collected a t least one run batted in for a fourth straight game.
Bermudez earned the win with 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Humberto Castellanos retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to collect his fourth save. The three pitchers, led by Freure's nine, combined to strike out 16 Beloit batters.
The River Bandits head home for the final series of the first half as they host the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers this weekend at Modern Woodmen Park. First pitch on Friday night is set for 6:35 p.m. It will be Field of Dreams Night presented by Tri-City Electric with an appearance from Dwier Brown. A fireworks show will follow the game thanks to Smart Toyota. RHP Brett Daniels (3-3, 1.72) will toe the rubber for the Bandits against Wisconsin RHP Adam Hill (5-4, 4.37).
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.