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Everything seemed to be going right for the Hounds through the first seven frames of the game as they worked with a 2-0 lead. DuPage pitcher Peter Hamot had worked a scoreless ballgame thus far, the offense wasn’t having any trouble getting men on base and the defense had made every play the Admirals threw at them. However, Joliet waited until the eighth inning to open the floodgates. Once the dominating Hamot left the game, the Admirals wasted no time on Hounds’ relievers as the first seven Joliet batters found a way to reach base, which ultimately led to five runs. Heading into the ninth down 5-2, the Hounds saw the Admirals add two more insurance runs, pushing the score to 7-2 and making the deficit seem even more unreachable. Joliet relievers did an excellent job of shutting down the hot DuPage bats once their starter Sean Renzi left after six, as they allowed no hits in the final three frames and locked down the 7-2 victory.

 

For DuPage, Dustin Krob was one for five from the leadoff spot with a single. He also stole two of the Hounds’ five stolen bases on the day. Shane Carrier hit out of his usual cleanup spot where he went one for three with a single. 

 

Ryan Fitzgerald continued his 11-game hitting streak after going one for four with a single. His infield mate, Richie Gorski continues to stay hot as he reached base a team’s best three times in his four attempts on a walk and two singles. Finally, Billy Hayes rounded out the Hounds’ offense by reaching base twice in his four trips on a walk and a RBI single. He also stole his eighth bag of the season. 

 

Newcomer Peter Hamot took the mound for the first time this season where he proved he can be a crucial part of the Hounds’ rotation for the upcoming August playoff run. The future Lewis University Flyer was extremely efficient through his seven innings of work where he allowed no runs on only three hits while striking out four. One of the heroes from Thursday night’s win over NWI, Bobby Wenthe was handed the eighth inning and that’s when trouble arose. The Admirals drove him out of the game after he allowed the first three batters of the inning to reach on a walk and two singles, which ended up leading to two runs. Richie Gorski inherited the rough situation where he eventually got out of it, but not after hitting two batters and surrendering three hits and three Joliet runs. The Admirals also squeezed their final two runs off of Gorski in the ninth.

 

For Joliet, Ryan Hutchinson led the way offensively, going three for five with three singles and a RBI. Anthony Bragg reached base twice in his five trips on a single and a double. Zach Thomas reached base three times on two walks and a single. Micah Coffey, Nate Tholl and John Thomas were all one for four with RBI singles. Alex Wolanski was also one for four with a single. Finally, Tyler Paulsen drove in one of the Admiral’s seven runs on a sacrifice fly.

 

Admiral pitcher Sean Renzi continues his efficiency against the Hounds. Today, he went six innings in which he gave up two runs on six hits while striking out six. As mentioned earlier, relievers Eric Littler and Zach Thomas were absolutely fantastic in their combined three innings out of the pen. Littler threw the seventh and allowed no runs on no hits while Thomas pitched the eighth and ninth where he did the same.

 

The Hounds (28-12) next ballgame is Sunday, July 26th against the second place Lexington Snipes (23-14) at 1:00 PM (CT) at High Desert Field. The Hounds currently lead the season series five games to three and hold a three and half game lead over them for first place in the MCL.