(May 22, 2024 – Euless, TX) A 14-hit, 11-run night is a great night of offense, and the Spirits (40+) squad used that great offense to cruise to an 11 to 2 victory over the Fighting Chihuahuas on Wednesday night. A 6-run third inning gave the Spirits a 7 to 1 lead and essentially took the life out of the Chihuahuas the rest of the way.
Five different Spirits hitters finished with two hits on the night including Shawn Hunt and Mike Sopocy, who both finished with 3 runs batted in. Hunt also doubled along with Shawn Lee, who also finished with a pair of hits and 2 runs batted in. Cliff Brade and Jonathan Duran each doubled while adding 2 hits on the night, with Brade scoring 3 times and Duran adding both a run scored and an RBI.
Duran was also in command on the mound, picking up the victory in 6 innings of work, allowing one earned on 8 scattered hits while walking and striking out 2. Stacy Scott picked up the final inning of work, giving up one unearned run.
Brade led off the game with a single and quickly stole second base. Eric McPherson followed with an RBI double to score him and the Spirits held an early 1 to 0 advantage. The next scoring opportunity occurred in the third inning when the Spirits offense went on a bit of a run. Earl German drew a walk to lead off the inning and moved to second on a balk by Chihuahua’s starter, Jacob Rankin. Duran followed with a double to score McPherson and a single by David Tipton moved him to third. Tipton swiped second base and Brade lost a battle of strikes to record the first out. McPherson walked to load the bases and Travis Hitzeman made it hurt by adding a single that scored Duran. Hunt was hit by a pitch to earn a painful RBI when Tipton crossed the dish, and Sopocy was able to reach on a fielder’s choice that put out Hunt at second but allowed McPherson to score. Lee followed with a two-out double to score both Hitzeman and Sopocy before Todd Murrah flew out to end the frame.
The ghosts tacked on another pair of runs in the fifth after Brade reached after Chihuahua’s pitcher, Luis Ruis hit him with a pitch. Brade stole second base and was held up after McPherson grounded out. Hitzeman then flew out to right field, allowing Brade to tag and move to third, and Hunt took advantage of the opportunity by scoring him with an RBI single. Hunt then stole second and then scored on an RBI single by Sopocy. Lee singled to keep the inning alive but Ruis was able to get Murrah to fly out to hold off any additional scoring.
The Spirits made it 11 to 1 in the top half of the seventh when Brade once again led off the inning, this time with a double. Brade stole third base before McPherson flew out. Hitzeman then lined out but Hunt’s double to the left center field gap was able to score Brade and a single by Sopocy scored Hunt to give the Spirits their final score before Lee flew out to close the frame. The dogs were able to plate a run following a pair of Spirits fielding errors in the bottom half of the inning, but Scott was able to close out the game with a pair of ground outs to give the contest its final score.
The Spirits return to action next Wednesday night when they take on Brewers at Texas Star, Arlington Field. Fans can click here for schedule details.
Central Roofing and Restoration Players of the Game
Shawn Hunt (2-3, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB)
Jonathan Duran (2-3, 2B, R, RBI; 6 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K)
Cliff Brade (2-3, 2B, 3 R, 3 SB)