Croes has four hits, Napleton has four RBIs as Gems snap four-game losing streak

QUINCY — The Normal Cornbelters were just a few feet away from tying the score in the eighth inning on Wednesday night.

However, Zach Goodman’s fly ball with two runners on base and two outs was caught up against the right-field wall, and the Quincy Gems added a run in the bottom of the eighth and claimed a 10-6 victory in a Prospect League game at QU Stadium. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for Quincy.

The Gems led 4-1 after two innings, but the Cornbelters scored four runs in the top of the third against starter Bennett Stice to take the lead. Quincy regained the lead in the fourth inning when Luke Napleton hit a two-run home run. 

The hosts added two more runs in the fifth inning when Logan Voth drew a walk with the bases loaded and Jaison Andujar scored on a balk. Dayson Croes scored a run for the Gems in the sixth inning on a wild pitch.

Phillip Reinhardt pitched two innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory for the Gems, and Donovan Prost gave up one run in three innings of relief to earn the save. Croes had four hits and extended his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games. Napleton drove in four runs for the Gems, who took advantage of 12 walks.

The Gems (29-28 overall, 10-15 second half) are five games behind first-place Normal in the Great River Division with three games left in the regular season. Normal will play at Quincy on Sunday in a first-round playoff game.