Gems take lead in top of the eighth, give it right back to Normal in bottom of eighth

NORMAL, Ill. — Just when it appeared the Quincy Gems had rallied to keep their flickering hopes alive to win the second half title in the Prospect League’s Great River Division, the Normal Cornbelters extinguished those hopes.

Normal scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Quincy 6-5 on Monday night at the Corn Crib. The Gems (28-27 overall, 9-14 second half) are 5 ½ games behind the first-place Cornbelters with six games to play. Normal, which has a four-game lead over second-place Clinton, will be Quincy’s opponent for the first round of the Prospect League playoffs if it wins the second-half title.

Quincy trailed 3-1 entering the top of the eighth inning when Luke Napleton led off with a solo homer. Drew Townsend singled, then Bennett Eltoft singled. Townsend scored and Eltoft moved to third on a throwing error by Normal third baseman Jake Munroe.

Jonathan Latham walked, then stole second. After Jayden Shafer struck out, Otto Jones was intentionally walked to load the bases. Logan Voth then hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Eltoft to score, and Latham then scored on a wild pitch.

Normal scored three times in the bottom of the eighth, collecting two doubles, a single, a walk and a sacrifice fly against reliever Cooper Stotts.

Hayden Moore led off the ninth with a walk but was thrown out attempting to steal second. Napleton struck out and Townsend fouled out to end the game.

Peyton Apps pitched five innings for the Gems, allowing two earned runs on four hits and four walks. Townsend and Eltoft combined for four of Quincy’s seven hits.