Gems lose doubleheader in battle of first-place teams in Great River Division

NORMAL, Ill. — The Quincy Gems missed a chance to move into first place in the Prospect League’s Great River Division — or even simply remain tied for first.

Instead, the Gems lost a doubleheader on Friday to the Cornbelters by scores of 6-3 and 4-1 at the Corn Crib to fall two games out of first place.

The Gems (5-5) scored one run in the first inning of the first game, then scored just three runs in the next 13 innings. The Gems had just six hits in the first game — two each from Zach Stewart, Matthew Batts and Otto Jones. The rest of the lineup was hitless in 17 at-bats.

After Stewart had an RBI single in the first inning of the opener, Normal countered with three runs in the first. The Cornbelters scored an unearned run in the third, then Ben Higgins hit a two-run homer in the fourth to make the score 6-1.

Batts drove in two runs with a single in the seventh.

Luc Fladda took the loss for Quincy, giving up five hits and four walks in four innings.

The second game was scoreless until the third inning when Normal scored all of its runs. Gems starter Brayden Haug allowed two walks and a single to load the bases, then walked another batter to force in a run. After a popup for the first out, a fielder’s choice allowed a second run to score. Haug then committed an error on a failed pickoff attempt, allowing another run to score, and a single allowed the final run to score.

Quincy was limited to one hit through four innings. Nolan Wosman was hit by a pitch with one out, and Jonathan Latham followed with a single. An error by the Normal first baseman allowed Wosman to score, but Tye Wood struck out and Logan Voth grounded out to first to end the threat.

The Gems were limited to three hits in the second game. Latham had two hits and Wosman had one. The rest of the lineup was hitless in 20 at-bats.

Ryan Chiemelewski pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the Gems.

Quincy plays Saturday at Springfield before returning home Sunday to play Normal.