The Decatur Bean Ballers carried a lead into the late innings Friday night, but a four-run eighth inning and two more insurance runs in the ninth lifted the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp to an 8-5 victory in a hard-fought Prospect League contest.
Decatur built an early two-run advantage and regained the lead in the seventh before Illinois Valley responded with six unanswered runs over the final two innings to complete the comeback.
The Bean Ballers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the opening inning.
Leadoff hitter Brandon Abernathy reached base and later scored the game’s first run when Will Applegate grounded out to shortstop, giving Decatur a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Moises Febrillet lined an RBI single to left field, bringing home Jackson Snitko and extending the advantage to 2-0.
Bean Ballers starter Kade Milleville was sharp through the early innings, holding the Pistol Shrimp scoreless while allowing just five hits across 6.2 innings. The right-hander struck out six and kept Illinois Valley’s offense in check through six frames.
Illinois Valley finally broke through in the top of the seventh.
Following a leadoff baserunner, Kirk Weatherford was retired attempting to steal second, but Carter Brown crossed the plate before the tag was applied to trim the deficit to 2-1. Moments later, Chase Roberts delivered a game-tying RBI single to center field, scoring Andrew Pyszka and evening the score at 2-2.
The Bean Ballers answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning.
Gage Reynolds scored on a sacrifice fly by Chase Wiese, putting Decatur back in front 3-2 before Applegate came through again with an RBI single to right field, plating Jackson Newton for a 4-2 advantage.
With six outs remaining, Decatur appeared poised to secure the victory.
Instead, the Pistol Shrimp erupted in the eighth inning.
Weatherford delivered the biggest hit of the night, lining a two-run single to left field that scored Ryan Duncheon and Ethan Silva to tie the game at 4-4. Illinois Valley continued to apply pressure as Andrew Pyszka followed with a two-run single up the middle, driving in Weatherford and Brown to give the visitors their first lead of the evening at 6-4.
Illinois Valley added two more insurance runs in the ninth. Silva scored on a throwing error after reaching on a strikeout and wild pitch sequence before Weatherford was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing home another run to stretch the lead to 8-4.
The Bean Ballers refused to go quietly in the bottom of the ninth.
Abernathy reached base before Wiese collected his second RBI of the night with a run-scoring single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 8-5. However, the rally ended there as Illinois Valley closed out the victory.
The Pistol Shrimp finished with 11 hits, led by Weatherford, who went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Silva and Duncheon each added two hits, while Pyszka drove in two runs. Carter Brown reached base four times, scoring twice and drawing a walk.
Decatur also collected 11 hits, with several players turning in strong offensive performances. Brandon Abernathy went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Chase Wiese finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including the Bean Ballers’ final run of the game. Will Applegate added two hits and two RBIs, and Jackson Snitko and Keegan Farnaus each recorded two-hit performances.
On the mound, Milleville deserved a better fate after allowing just two earned runs over 6.2 strong innings. Illinois Valley’s bullpen proved to be the difference, as Matt Hannafin earned the victory with three effective innings of relief, allowing two runs while helping preserve the late lead. Yamato Onozaki recorded the final three outs to earn the save.
Despite leading twice during the contest and matching Illinois Valley with 11 hits, the Bean Ballers were unable to overcome the Pistol Shrimp’s late offensive surge, as a four-run eighth inning swung the momentum and ultimately sent Decatur to an 8-5 defeat.