Fladda’s six shutout innings in nightcap allow Gems to earn split with Hoots

O’FALLON, Mo. — Luc Fladda shut down the O’Fallon Hoots in the second game of Sunday’s Prospect League doubleheader and allowed the Quincy Gems to come away with a split at CarShield Field.

After dropping the opening game 4-3, the Gems scored a 2-0 victory in the nightcap as Fladda allowed three hits over six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Quincy High School graduate Noah Harbin pitched the seventh inning for the save, striking out one.

The Gems scored both of their runs in the fourth inning. Zach Stewart doubled with one out and Lucas Loos followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Drew Townsend doubled to drive in one run, and Bennett Eltoft followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Loos.

That was enough for Fladda, who improved to 2-1 with his first victory since June 3.

In the opener, the Hoots tagged Gems starter Jacob Kroeger for three runs in the first two innings and tacked on another in the fifth to hand the Palmyra product his second loss of the summer. Kroeger allowed six hits in 4 ⅔ innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.

The Gems grabbed the lead in the top of the first when Tye Wood led off with a double, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth, the Gems tied the game at 3 as Lucas Loos and Luke Napleton hit back-to-back home runs. However, the offense stalled thereafter and 11 of the next 13 batters recorded outs with the other two drawing walks. Quincy was limited to three hits by three O’Fallon pitchers.