The Decatur Bean Ballers turned a tightly contested game into a late-inning rout on Thursday night, erupting for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure a 12-5 victory in collegiate summer baseball action at home in Decatur.
After battling through seven innings with a narrow two-run advantage, the Bean Ballers delivered their biggest offensive inning of the season, sending 12 men to the plate and capitalizing on timely hitting, walks, a wild pitch, and a balk to pull away for the convincing win.
Decatur struck first in the opening inning when center fielder Matthew Novominsky launched a solo home run, giving the Bean Ballers an early 1-0 lead.
The visitors answered in the second inning with a solo homer of their own to even the score at 1-1, but Decatur regained control in the third. Garrett Allen started the rally by scoring on Oneill Feliz’s RBI double down the left-field line. Moments later, Jagger Snitko delivered a two-run single to center field, bringing home Jackson Snitko and Feliz to extend the Bean Ballers’ lead to 4-1.
Decatur added another run in the fourth inning when Jackson Snitko lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Novominsky to score and push the advantage to 5-1.
On the mound, starter Nathan Trimble kept the opposition in check through the first four innings, allowing just one run while working around traffic. Trimble finished with 4.2 innings pitched, surrendering three hits and one earned run while striking out one batter.
The visitors slowly chipped away at the deficit. An RBI single in the fifth inning cut the lead to 5-2, and another run-scoring single in the seventh made it a two-run contest at 5-3.
The pressure continued in the eighth inning as the visitors tied the game. A fielder’s choice plated one run before an RBI single brought home the tying run, knotting the score at 5-5 and threatening to erase Decatur’s early momentum.
Instead, the Bean Ballers responded immediately with their most explosive inning of the night.
Brandon Abernathy scored the go-ahead run after Oneill Feliz worked a bases-loaded walk. Jackson Snitko followed with another bases-loaded walk to force home Keegan Farnaus, making it 7-5. A wild pitch brought Novominsky home, extending the advantage to three runs.
The decisive blow came off the bat of Jagger Snitko, who ripped a two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Jackson Snitko and Feliz to push the lead to 10-5. Another wild pitch brought home Jackson Miller before a balk scored Snitko, capping a seven-run outburst and giving Decatur a commanding 12-5 lead.
The Bean Ballers finished with seven hits but made them count, drawing 14 walks and consistently putting pressure on the opposition throughout the night.
Novominsky led the offense by scoring three runs while adding a home run and three walks. Allen scored once and collected a double. Feliz reached base three times, drove in two runs, and scored twice. Jackson Snitko recorded two RBIs and scored twice, while Jagger Snitko delivered the biggest hit of the game, finishing with four RBIs, including the crucial two-run double during the eighth-inning explosion.
On the mound, Daniel Ruiz provided valuable relief work after Trimble’s departure, tossing 2.1 innings while allowing two runs. Bruno Banuelos earned the victory out of the bullpen, working the final two innings and helping secure the Bean Ballers’ late comeback after Decatur reclaimed the lead in the eighth.
Despite allowing the game to become tied late, the Bean Ballers showcased resilience and offensive firepower when it mattered most. With the game deadlocked entering the bottom of the eighth, Decatur responded with seven unanswered runs to turn a tense contest into a statement victory in front of the home crowd.
Coach Arroyo Post Game Interview
#17 Jagger Snitko Post Game Interview
#17 Jagger Snitko with a Hard Hit 2 RBI Double to Right Field
#15 Matthew Novominsky with a Solo Home Run over Right Field Fence
Bean Baller Double Play: SS #28 Carder Reich -> 2B #1 Keegan Farnaus -> 1B #25 Jackson Snitko
#34 Oneill Feliz with a Hard Hit RBI Double down 3rd Base Line
Pitcher #3 Daniel Ruiz with the Pitch, Secures the Hit, and makes the Toss to #25 Jackson Snitko for the Out
#27 Grayson Roberson with the Hard Hit Single to Right Field
