Pistol Shrimp score 11 times in top of seventh, send Doggy Paddlers to ninth straight loss

QUINCY — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers showed some resolve Thursday night, chiseling a seven-run deficit against the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp to just two.

Then the bottom fell out of the comeback.

The Pistol Shrimp scored 11 runs in the top of the seventh inning at QU Stadium, capitalizing on four walks, two errors and two wild pitches to stroll away with an 18-5 Prospect League victory.

Quincy trailed 7-0 before the offense came to life in the fifth as Byron Blaise led off with a single, Jameson Johnson walked, and one out later, Jimmy Koza delivered a two-run single. A three-run sixth inning followed with Blaise, the Quincy University product, belting a three-run home run to right-center field.

Illinois Valley came back by starting the seventh with the leadoff hitter reaching on an error and Doggy Paddlers reliever Cayman Huntsman allowing three consecutive singles before a call to the bullpen. Quincy reliever Isaiah Naylor induced a groundout from the first batter he faced before allowing eight consecutive batters to reach safely and uncorking two wild pitches that allowed runners to score from third.

The Pistol Shrimp collected 19 hits against three Doggy Paddlers pitchers, while the Doggy Paddlers had just six hits. Blaise and Koza each had two hits.

The Doggy Paddlers have lost nine games in a row and dropped to 14-27 and 5-13 in the second half of the Prospect League season.