(May 31, 2023 – Euless, TX) Coming off of a complete-game win against the Killer B’s, Spirits (40+) starter Jonathan Duran made it two in a row on Wednesday night as he allowed just one earned run off of 5 hits while walking nobody, and striking out 6 Fighting Chihuahuas hitters in helping the Spirits earn a 6 to 1 victory in DFW-ABA 40 League action.
Mike Sopocy finished a perfect, 2-for-2 with a walk, run scored, and run batted in while David Tipton finished 2-for-3 on the night, adding an RBI and 2 runs scored. Eric Goetz tripled, walked, stole a pair of bases and scored twice to help power the Spirits offense.
It was the Chihuahuas that took the early lead in the bottom half of the first inning after Jacob Rankin and Michael Welsh both singled with two outs. A third straight single by Keith Ricci scored Rankin before Tad Holbrook grounded out.
The Spirits offense remained quiet until the third inning after Tipton led off the inning with a single and moved to second after Duran reached on an error. Kirk Sipila reached on a fielder’s choice that put out Duran at second, and a follow up RBI single by Cliff Brade scored Tipton to tie the game, 1 to 1. Eric McPherson was able to reach on a fielder’s choice that put Brade out at second, but Sipila was able to score and give the Spirits a 2 to 1 lead before Will Nash grounded out to end the Spirits half of the inning.
The ghosts added 2 more run in the fourth after Goetz led off with a single and stole second. An RBI single by Sopocy scored him before Stacy Scott followed up with a single to give the Spirits two runners aboard. Earl German lost a battle of strikes and a walk to Shawn Hunt loaded teh bags. Tipton was then able to score Sopocy on a sacrifice fly to give the Spirits a 4 to 2 lead before Duran flew out to end the Spirits’ frame.
Holbrook replaced Welsh as the Chihuahuas pitcher in the sixth and after he was able to get Nash to fly out, Goetz reached base after drawing a base-on-balls. Goetz swiped his second base of the game and was then able to score on an errant throw by the Chihuahuas catcher. Sopocy drew a walk to keep the inning alive, but Scott grounded into a double-play to close it out.
The Spirits added a sixth insurance run in the seventh after Tipton singled with two outs and moved to second on a wild pitch. Tipton later moved to third on an error by Holbrook and a single by Duran scored him to give the Spirits their sixth and final run before Brade lined out. Duran went on to close out the Chihuahuas in order, adding his sixth strikeout to shut down the game.
The Spirits return to action next Wednesday night when the host the Mustangs on Arlington Field at Texas Star. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30PM and fans can click here for additional schedule details or to listen live using the iScore Central app.
Next Level Sports Apparel Players of the Game
Mike Sopocy (2-2, R, RBI, BB)
David Tipton (2-3, 2 R, RBI)
Jonathan Duran (1-3, RBI; 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K)