HTL: Cambridge splits twin bill with Evansville

EVANSVILLE — The Cambridge Blues split a doubleheader against the Evansville Jays on Sunday, winning 2-0 in the first game and losing 4-2 in extra innings in the second game at Lake Leota Park.

In the first game, JT Parish held the Jays to just two hits over seven innings in the win. Parish pitched a complete game, recording six strikeouts.

After allowing a leadoff walk to start the seventh inning, Parish retired the next two Jays by strikeout. Parish then recorded a fly out to close out the shutout win.

Both of Cambridge’s runs were scored in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Owen Bernhardt scored on a double steal, swiping home, while Jake Willey stole second base.

Later in the inning, Willey scored on an RBI double from Connor O’Brien for the second run.

In the second game, Evansville scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning. After the first seven innings were scoreless, the game went into extra innings with an “automatic runner” starting at second base, per Home Talent League rules.

In the top of the eighth, Henry Bishop hit a sacrifice fly to score Bennett Keller for Evansville. Cambridge answered in the bottom of the eighth inning when O’Brien hit a sacrifice fly to score Jett Horton.

Cambridge, however, could not score Willey, who reached third base with one out after the fly out. Two Cambridge popups kept the game tied at 1-1 and forced another inning.

With Evansville up to bat in the ninth, Carson Syse scored Trevor Syse on an RBI single to go up 2-1. Stephen Kopecky then scored on an error and a balk by Cambridge pitcher Sam Mickelson plated Carson Syse, putting Evansville up 4-1.

In the bottom of the frame, Logan Koch scored Denver Evans on an RBI single to cut the lead to 4-2. However, two popups closed out the game and ended Cambridge’s nine-game win streak.

Cambridge (9-2) faces Utica (10-1) at Racetrack Park in Edgerton at 4:30 p.m. next Sunday.

First game

CAMBRIDGE 2, EVANSVILLE 0

CAM 000 020 0 — 2 5 0

EVA 000 000 0 — 0 2 1

Pitchers (ip-h-r-er-so-bb) — C: Parish (W; 7-2-0-0-6-2); E: Lavery (L; 7-5-2-2-11-3).

Leading hitters — C: O’Brien (2B).

Second game

EVANSVILLE 4, CAMBRIDGE 2 (9)

EVA 000 000 013 — 4 6 1

CAM 000 000 011 — 2 3 2

Pitchers (ip-h-r-er-so-bb) — E: Peterson (7-1-0-0-7-4), Bishop (W; 2-2-2-0-0-0); C: Evans (8-4-1-0-2-3), Mickelson (L; 1-2-3-0-1-1).