Doggy Paddlers win opening game of twinbill with LumberKings, struggle in nightcap

CLINTON, Iowa — Baserunning and timely hitting allowed the Quincy Doggy Paddlers to steal the first game of a doubleheader with the Clinton LumberKings on Tuesday, but the LumberKings’ hot start in the nightcap helped them salvage a split.

The Doggy Paddlers took the lead for good in the top of the sixth of a 5-3 victory in the opener, while the LumberKings scored four runs in three separate innings — the first, fourth and sixth — to end a 12-2 win in the sixth inning of the second game at NelsonCorp Field.

With the game tied at 3, runners at first and second and one out in the sixth inning of the first game, Quincy designated hitter Carter Jones struck out, but as General Schofield attempted to steal third, Clinton catcher Bryk Barnard’s throw skipped past third baseman Jamie Rasmussen and allowed Schofield to score the go-ahead run. Jimmy Koza followed with a single to left field that drove in Brayden Roberts and made it a 5-3 game.

Doggy Paddlers left-hander Jason Schmierer worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth. The LumberKings got the tying run to the plate with two outs in the seventh, but Schmierer struck out pinch-hitter James Hackett to end the game.

Schmierer surrendered three hits, walked two, struck out five and finished off his first complete game of the season on 89 pitches.

The LumberKings tagged Doggy Paddlers starting pitcher Ethan Gamez for four runs in the first and fourth innings of the second game before chasing him. The Doggy Paddlers scored their only runs on a Tommy Harrison double and Wandel Campana single in the top of the fifth. A Jack Funke RBI single in the bottom of the sixth put the mercy rule into effect.

The Doggy Paddlers (16-37, 7-23 second half) and LumberKings (33-19, 15-12 second half) will face off again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Clinton, Iowa.