Doggy Paddlers unable to put finishing touches on seventh-inning rally, loses both ends of twinbill

QUINCY — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers even getting the potential winning run seemed like a longshot at best considering the hole they dug themselves prior to that. 

The Doggy Paddlers trailed the O’Fallon Hoots 9-0 entering the bottom of the seventh and final inning of game two of Tuesday’s doubleheader at QU Stadium, but a furious rally resulted in six runs, and four consecutive two-out baserunners brought Skylar Graham to the plate with the bases loaded and the Doggy Paddlers down by three. Graham fouled off multiple two-strike pitches from Ryker Keller but eventually flew out to left fielder Mitchell Bonczkowski to end the game by a final of 9-6.

Twelve batters came to the plate in the Doggy Paddlers’ comeback attempt in that inning. The Hoots scored six runs of their own in the top of the seventh to give them what turned out to be some much-needed extra cushion. Tommy Harrison had a bases-clearing double in the seventh, and Skylar Graham, Jack Linenfelser and Gavin Obremski each had RBI singles. That was Obremski’s first hit and RBI as a Doggy Paddler.

The Hoots also won game one 20-4. The second inning did the Doggy Paddlers in, as the Hoots scored 12 runs in that frame thanks in large part to eight walks by Doggy Paddlers pitchers, and the Hoots never looked back. Those 20 runs are the most the Hoots have scored in a game this season and the most the Doggy Paddlers have given up.

O’Fallon (27-14, 12-3 second half) has now won eight consecutive games, while the Doggy Paddlers (14-25, 5-11 second half) have lost seven straight contests. The Doggy Paddlers will be back in action with a doubleheader on the road against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes on Wednesday and will return home to face the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp on Thursday.