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CARDINALS AND ROYALS SPLIT DOUBLE HEADER

Hamilton made their first trip to Guelph on Saturday afternoon to play a double header against the Royals. Each team would pick up their first victories of the season on the afternoon with the Royals taking game one and the Cardinals winning the second game. Connor Bowie led the way for Hamilton in both games, combining to go 3 for 8 with seven runs batted in with two of his hits going over the fence.

Guelph jumped out to an early two run lead in the bottom of the first inning of the first game. The Cardinals would cut that lead in half in the fourth when TJ Baker, who lead off the inning with a walk, stole second base and then came around to score on two wild pitches.

However, the Royals regained their two-run lead in the bottom of the fifth on a Jeff MacLeod RBI single. Bowie responded for Hamilton in the sixth with a two-run home run to tie up the game. Unfortunately, Guelph would walk off with the win in the first of the twin bill on a Chris Nakashima single.

For Hamilton, Jackson Jones made his debut, going five innings, allowing three runs, one of which was unearned, on five hits, three walks and striking out two. Benson Merritt took over for Jones on the mound to start the sixth and went an inning and a third taking the loss. Merritt would allow one run on one hit and one walk.

For the Royals, Adrian Yuen went five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking five and striking out one. Ben Reid picked up the win in relief of Yuen going one and a third innings, allowing just one walk and striking out three.

Guelph kicked off the second game of the double header with two two-run home runs in the bottom of the first for a quick 4-0 lead. Hamilton responded the next half inning. Chris Beer would be hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the first run for the Cardinals. Bowie then followed with a bases clearing double to tie the game at four.

The Royals regained the lead in the bottom of the third but it didn’t last long as the Cardinals took advantage of a pair of errors in the fourth to score five times and take a 9-5 lead. Each team would plate a pair of runs in their next at bats with Bowie hitting his second home run of the day, a two-run shot, in the top of the fifth. The Cardinals would go on to add one more run in the seventh to take the second game 12-7.

Kyle Adoranti started the game and went three innings, allowing seven runs on five hits, walking six and striking out three. Jake Foden when the rest of the way allowing two hits and three walks to pick up the win.

For Guelph, Tyler Vavra took the loss going three and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs, three of which were unearned, on six hits, four walks, hitting four batters and picking up two strikeouts. Justin Cline relieved Vavra and went a third of an inning allowing three runs, only one was earned, on three hits. Matt Schmidt then took the mound for two innings of work allowing just one hit and one walk. Evan DiMichelle pitched the final inning allowing a run on three walks and striking out one.

Hamilton returns to Bernie Arbour on Sunday to host the Brantford Red Sox also starting at 2:00 PM. This will be the Cardinals’ fifth game in as many days.

The Hamilton Cardinals and Buffalo Wild Wings are teaming up to raise funds for the Special Olympics Hamilton Softball team. At the Ancaster location of Buffalo Wild Wings at 1015 Golf Links Road between 6 and 8 PM on June 19th to eat wings and raise funds. Members of the Cardinals will be special guest servers and 10 percent of the bill will be donated to the Special Olympics Hamilton Softball team.

GAME 1
Winning Pitcher: Ben Reid (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Benson Merritt (0-1)

Guelph Hitters
Marquis Kidd – 2 for 3 (2 Singles, Sacrifice Bunt, RBI)
Mike Hart – 1 for 2 (Single, 2 Hit by Pitches, Strikeout, 2 Runs, RBI)
Matt Schmidt – 1 for 2 (Single, 2 Walks, Fielder’s Choice, Stolen Base, Run)

Hamilton Hitters
Connor Bowie – 1 for 3 (2-Run Home Run, Run, 2 RBIs)
Justice Magee – 1 for 3 (Single, Reached on Error)
Chris Beer – 1 for 4 (Single, Strikeout)

GAME 2
Winning Pitcher: Jake Foden (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Tyler Vavra (0-2)

Guelph Hitters
Mike Hart – 2 for 3 (Single, 2-Run Home Run, Hit by Pitch, Stolen Base, 2 Runs, 2 RBIs)
Darren Saunders – 2 for 4 (Double, 2-Run Home Run, Fielder’s Choice, Run, 3 RBIs)
Chris Nakashima – 1 for 1 (Single, 3 Walks, 2 Runs)

Hamilton Hitters
Connor Bowie – 2 for 5 (Double, 2-Run Home Run, Fielder’s Choice, Run, 5 RBIs)
Laine Renaud – 2 for 4 (2 Singles, Walk, Reach on Error, 2 Runs, RBI)
TJ Baker – 2 for 5 (2 Singles, Strikeout, Run, RBI)

Fans can now sign up for the all new team newsletter called the Cardinals Chatter. To sign up, head to the Cardinals website at www.iblcardinals.com and fill out the form on the Cardinals Chatter page.

2017 season tickets are now available and can be ordered by emailing the team at IBLCardinals@gmail.com. Tickets for all Hamilton Cardinals home games are available at the Bernie Arbour Stadium Box Office on game day.

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