The Springfield Lucky Horseshoes and Dubois County Bombers traded victories in a tightly contested doubleheader, with each game scheduled for seven innings. Dubois County claimed the opener 2-0 behind a dominant pitching performance, while Springfield answered in dramatic fashion in the nightcap, walking off the Bombers 8-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Bombers Blank Horseshoes 2-0 in Game One
Dubois County capitalized on a pair of second-inning scoring plays and made the lead stand up behind strong pitching to secure a 2-0 victory in the first game of the doubleheader.
The Bombers broke through in the top of the second inning when Ian Cartwright delivered an RBI single to center field, bringing home John DiGregorio for the game’s first run. Later in the inning, Dixon Monk lined an RBI double to right field, scoring Simon Gaines and extending the advantage to 2-0.
Those two runs proved to be all Dubois County needed.
Bombers starter Raygan New was outstanding, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and two walks. He struck out six Horseshoes hitters and consistently worked out of trouble. Luke Holbrook handled the seventh inning to complete the shutout.
Springfield managed only three hits in the contest, with Adrian Nina, Brandon Valentin, and Zach White accounting for the Horseshoes’ offensive production. Despite drawing two walks, Springfield stranded five runners and was unable to generate a breakthrough against the Bombers’ pitching staff.
Dubois County finished with 10 hits, led by Hudson Allen and John DiGregorio with two hits apiece. Brayden Giesler also collected two hits, while Cartwright and Monk each drove in a run.
The Horseshoes’ pitching staff kept the game within reach. Hayden Steelman worked 4.2 innings and allowed two runs, while Knox Poston tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.
Horseshoes Walk Off Bombers 8-6 in Extra-Inning Thriller
The second game provided far more offense and even more drama, as Springfield erased a late deficit and walked off Dubois County in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn a split of the twin bill.
The Bombers struck first in the third inning. A sacrifice fly from Aiden McClary scored Nate Dunfee before Drake DeFreitas reached on an error that allowed Hudson Allen to score, giving Dubois County a 2-0 lead.
Springfield answered in the fourth. Zach White launched a solo home run to center field, and Jacob Buysse followed later in the inning with a two-run blast to left-center, putting the Horseshoes ahead 3-2.
The Bombers regained momentum in the fifth inning. Drew Bradley drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game before Ian Cartwright delivered a two-run single up the middle, scoring Drake DeFreitas and McClary to give Dubois County a 5-3 advantage.
Springfield quickly responded in the bottom half. AJ Keely crushed a solo homer to left field, and Marco Lopez later worked a bases-loaded walk that brought home Zach White, evening the score at 5-5.
The game remained deadlocked until the eighth inning. Dubois County moved back in front when Hunter Reeb lifted a sacrifice fly to score Jack Gordon, giving the Bombers a 6-5 lead.
But the Horseshoes saved their biggest swing for last.
In the bottom of the eighth, Adrian Nina reached and Dylan England got aboard ahead of Jacob Buysse, who delivered the decisive blow. Buysse launched a three-run home run to left field, scoring Nina and England and sending the Horseshoes to an 8-6 walk-off victory.
Buysse finished with a monster performance, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. White added a homer and two runs scored, while Keely also homered and drove in two runs.
Dubois County was paced by Aiden McClary, who collected two hits and scored twice. Cartwright drove in two runs, while DeFreitas added an RBI and scored a run.
Springfield’s bullpen proved critical after a rocky start. Jack Olson earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief, striking out one and allowing just one hit. The Horseshoes’ staff combined for 11 strikeouts in the win.
With the split, Springfield bounced back from a frustrating shutout loss in Game One and ended the night on a high note thanks to Buysse’s extra-inning heroics, while Dubois County left Springfield with a hard-fought split after controlling much of the day’s action in the opener.
#19 Jacob Buysse with a 2 Run Home Run over the Scoreboard in Left Field
Horseshoe Double Play: #2 Brandon Valentin -> #3 AJ Keely -> #19 Jacob Buysse
#14 Zach White with a Solo Home Run over Left Field Fence
#2 Brandon Valentin secures the Grounder and makes the Throw to #19 Jacob Buysse for the Out
#1 Adrian Nina with a Single to Center Field
#23 Griffin Novacek with a Hard Hit Single to Right Field
