June 5, 2025
–NORMAL–
The Normal Cornbelters faced up against Terre Haute Rex Baseball at The Corn Crib on a
beautiful evening in Normal, Illinois.
The Cornbelters defeated Rex Baseball 3-1 in what was a low scoring affair, but the Belters were
able to push a couple runs across late in the bottom of the seventh and prevail to move on to a
four and five record.
Both the Cornbelters and REX baseball came into this game sitting at a 3 and 5 record. The
Cornbelters, having lost three straight, were looking to get back in the win column before an
exciting weekend series against the Chillicothe Paints.
Rex got started early off left hander RJ Bergren via a walk from the leadoff man Gio Mendoza.
Mendoza was able to use his speed by getting all the way to third base and being brought home
by a sacrifice fly by Third Baseman Gabe Wright.
The Cornbelters were not able to get anything going off REX pitcher Samuel Guadamuz out of
Talladega College had the Cornbelters struggling at the plate until Shortstop Jackson Smith came
up to the plate in the Bottom of the fourth inning and slugged his first home run of the season
deep out towards right-center field to knot the score up at one.
RJ Bergren was able to settle in after the first inning. His final line in his first start of the season
was four innings pitched, one earned run, one walk and 3 strikeouts. After Bergren exited the
game remained a steady duel between Guadamuz and Cornbelters pitching. REX baseball was
not able to get their first hit of the ball game until the top of the Seventh inning.
In the bottom half of the 7th the Cornbelters were able to feed off their pitchers and get a run
across courtesy of a base hit by the Designated Hitter Cal Royer, then followed by a base hit by
first baseman Jackson Stanek to move pinch runner Jack Novak to third base. Nolan McCrossin
came up and hit what looked to be a routine double play ball to REX third baseman Gio
Mendoza but due to a throw that sailed into the outfield Jack Novak was able to score and stretch
the lead to 2-1. Ryan Colucci added to the fun with a one-run double down the right field line for
his 2nd RBI of the season to stretch the lead to 3-1.
Belters pitchers were able to keep REX off the board for the rest of the game. Alec Bergman
came on for the save in the 9th inning.
Bergman was able to set down REX hitters one, two, three to earn the save in the Cornbelters 3-1
win. The Cornbelters move to four and five on the season and will open up a two game weekend
series against the Chillicothe Paints starting tomorrow.

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