By: Evan Schmeizer

The Normal CornBelters only needed eight innings to collect 18 hits in
order to defeat the Danville Dans by the 10-run rule 18-8 Sunday
afternoon at the Corn Crib. Normal also took advantage of 12 walks/hit
batters from Dans pitching. The CornBelters need to win their final
two games Tuesday & Wednesday at home against the Illinois Valley
Pistol Shrimp and the Terra Haute REX need to lose their final two
games against the Dans.

Danville opened the scoring in the second against Normal starter, Will
Davidsmeier. Austin Neuweg hit a sacrifice fly to left to drive in
Nate Chester. The CornBelters sent nine men to the plate to score four
runs in the third to take a 4-1 lead. Tyler Thompson, Judah Morris,
Will Jesske, and Tyler Castro all singled to ignite the rally.
Thompson added one more of his three hits in the fourth to make it
5-1.

The fifth inning got away from the CornBelters after manager, Billy
Dubois lifted Davidsmeier with one out. The combination of
Davidsmeier, Mason Telford and Maccallen Conklin allowed five runs on
four wild pitches to give the Dans a 6-5 lead. The CornBelters came up
empty in the fifth despite Danville reliever, Maks Pierga issuing two
walks and hitting a batter. Andrew Hendrickson drove in a run in the
sixth on an infield hit to give the Dans a 7-5 lead.

The CornBelters sent 10 men to the plate in the sixth to score six
runs to take an 11-7 lead. Zach Zychowski walked and stole second then
Thompson lined out. Judah Morris singled to put the tying runs on
first and third. Mateo Casillas pinch ran for him. Landen Johnson hit
a potential inning ending double play ball to first, but Sebastian
Arguelles dropped the ball at second and failed to get anyone out.
Jesske singled to tie the game at seven. Chase Mason-who caught today
for the first time in two weeks after injuring his throwing
hand-walked, so did Austin Wiegand and Alex Mezzetti. Kody Morton
singled home the sixth and final run of the inning.

Normal added three runs in the seventh and four in the eighth to wrap
up the victory. Conklin, Mac Raymer, & Zach Courson combined for four
innings out of the bullpen, only one run, no walks, and three
strikeouts to restore order during the chaotic middle innings.

Up next: The CornBelters enjoy an off day Monday. Then they welcome
the Pistol Shrimp to town for back-to-back 6:30pm games Tuesday &
Wednesday to finish the Prospect League regular season.

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