The Bats led the Yard Dogs, 8-4, after 5 innings, but gave up 1 unearned run in the sixth and 6 runs (3 unearned) in the seventh to go down in defeat, 11-8.  The loss dropped the Bats to 0-2 while the Yard Dogs improved to 2-1.

Despite getting 6 innings of solid pitching from Mike Hareng, Bill Quoss, and Kevin Molbeck, the Bats committed 4 errors in the top of the seventh to give the game away.  Molbeck was the hard-luck loser as he was charged with 7 runs in 2 innings of work, but only 3 runs were earned.  The Bats committed 8 errors in the contest bringing their two-game total to 12 errors.

Hareng pitched the first 4 innings and left with a 5-2 lead while surrendering only 5 hits and a walk with 3 strikeouts.

Although the Bats collected only 6 hits they drew 5 walks and stole 8 bases to generate 8 runs.  Jeff McClellan and Tony DiBlasi each had 2 RBI while Molbeck and Hareng sparked the offense with 3 stolen bases each.  Unfortunately, the Bats were unabale to score in the final 2 innings to match the Yard Dogs rallies. 

The Bats next game will be on Sunday, May 20 at 1 p.m. against the Cubs at Spring Grove Park in Spring Grove, Ill. 

BATS DROPPINGS

Since 2008 the Bats have opened their season at 0-2 after two games in all but two of those years.  In 2013 they opened the season with a 13-13 tie and stood at 0-1-1 after two games.  In 2017 they opened with a 7-5 victory and had a record of 1-1 after the first two games.  ...... The Bats have not won more than 3 games in a season since 2010 when they finished with a record of 7-11.  They won 3 games in 2011 (3-15), 2013 (3-13-1), 2015 (3-13) and 2017 (3-12-1). ...... The Bats have not won consecutive games since the 2011 season.