The Decatur Bean Ballers earned a pair of victories over the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes on Tuesday, sweeping a seven-inning weekday doubleheader in the latest edition of the “Battle of I-72.”
Decatur overcame an early deficit to win the opening game 7-3 before its offense erupted for 21 runs in the nightcap, securing a 21-11 victory and completing the sweep.
Game 1: Five-Run Sixth Lifts Decatur to 7-3 Victory
Springfield struck first in the opener, scoring twice in the top of the fourth inning.
Ian Woita brought home the game’s first run with a single to left field before Kannon Kirk followed with an RBI single of his own, giving the Lucky Horseshoes a 2-0 advantage.
Decatur began its comeback in the bottom half of the inning. Brady Grabowski scored on an RBI single from Noah Delgado, cutting Springfield’s lead to 2-1.
The Bean Ballers pulled even in the fifth when Brandon Abernathy scored on Will Applegate’s RBI double to center field.
With the game tied at two, Decatur broke through for five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Abernathy delivered the go-ahead hit, driving in Gage Reynolds and Delgado with a two-run single to left. Applegate followed with a two-run single that plated Abernathy and Reynolds, extending the Bean Ballers’ lead to 6-2.
Moises Febrillet capped the inning with an RBI single that brought Applegate home and gave Decatur a five-run advantage.
Springfield scored once in the seventh when Griffin Novacek crossed the plate following an error, but the Horseshoes could not complete the comeback.
Applegate led the Decatur offense by going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Abernathy finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Febrillet collected two hits and drove in a run. Delgado also recorded a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Kade Milleville earned the victory on the mound after allowing two runs on 10 hits over six innings. He struck out five without issuing a walk. Luke Bonstetter handled the seventh inning, allowing one unearned run while striking out one.
Springfield finished with 12 hits, led by Jacob Buysse’s three-hit performance. Kirk and Woita each had two hits and one RBI.
Game 2: Bean Ballers’ Offense Erupts in 21-11 Win
Decatur carried its momentum into the second game and quickly took control with an eight-run second inning.
Keegan Farnaus opened the scoring with an RBI single that brought Oneill Feliz home. Chase Wiese followed with a sacrifice fly, and Applegate drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0.
Jackson Miller then delivered one of the biggest hits of the inning, lining a three-run single to right field that scored Jackson Newton, Abernathy and Applegate. Two additional runs scored on wild pitches, giving Decatur an 8-0 lead.
The Bean Ballers added five more runs in the third.
Abernathy tripled home Wiese before scoring on an RBI single from Applegate. Febrillet followed with an RBI double, Feliz drove in two runs with a single to left and Farnaus added another RBI on a fielder’s choice, pushing the lead to 13-0.
Springfield began cutting into the deficit in the fourth when Buysse drove home Tanay Vyas with an RBI single.
The Horseshoes scored five more times in the fifth. Novacek recorded an RBI single before Vyas hit a three-run home run to right field. Buysse then doubled home Woita to make it a 13-6 game.
Decatur responded with two runs in the sixth. Farnaus tripled home Delgado and later scored on Newton’s RBI single, stretching the advantage to 15-6.
The Bean Ballers put the game away with six more runs in the top of the seventh. Feliz and Delgado each recorded RBI hits, Wiese added his second sacrifice fly and Applegate cleared the bases with a three-run double to right field, giving Decatur a 21-6 lead.
Springfield continued battling in the bottom of the seventh. Novacek scored on an error before Buysse launched a grand slam to left field, accounting for the final four runs of the doubleheader.
Applegate finished Game 2 with two hits, including a double, and five RBIs. Miller went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Farnaus collected two hits, three RBIs and three runs.
Feliz went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, Delgado finished with two hits, three runs and an RBI, and Abernathy added a triple, an RBI and two runs scored.
Buysse led Springfield’s offense with a 4-for-4 performance, finishing with a home run and six RBIs. Vyas went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored.
Manuel Toro earned the victory for Decatur after pitching 4⅓ innings. Kaden Davis and Abernathy combined to record the final eight outs.
Decatur Completes the Sweep
The Bean Ballers produced 28 runs and 23 hits across the two seven-inning contests. Decatur scored five or more runs in four separate innings during the doubleheader, using a five-run sixth to win the opener before scoring 13 times over the second and third innings of Game 2.
Springfield recorded 21 hits and showed resilience with late rallies in both games, but Decatur’s timely hitting and run production proved too much as the Bean Ballers secured both victories in the “Battle of I-72.”