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CARDINALS-HERD DUEL IN SLUGFEST

Hamilton and Burlington met for the third time in the last nine days as they took to the field at Bernie Arbour Stadium in IBL action on Friday night. The teams would combine to score 31 runs on 30 hits but it was the visiting team that left with an 18-13 win. Jake Chiaravalle led the Cardinals at the plate, going three-for-six with two home runs, a double, three runs scored and five runs batted in.

The Cardinals would jump out to an early lead in their first at bat of the game. Chiaravalle doubled with one out and later scored on a Logan Stewart RBI single. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Cal Murphy singled to bring in two runners and give the home side a 3-0 lead. Hamilton would add two more runs in the third when Marcus Dicezno was hit by a pitch and Greg Marco walked, both with the bases loaded to extend the lead.

In the fourth the Herd would get on the board with a two-run home run by John Whaley and later added another run on a Nolan Pettipiece fielder’s choice. Burlington went on to score six unearned runs in the fifth as they sent 12 batters to the plate to take their first lead of the game.

However, that lead was short lived as the Cardinals scored five times in their half of the inning. Dicenzo and Marco would each pick up RBI singles in the inning before they were brought home by Chiaravalle on a three-run home run.

The teams kept the bats and base paths blazing hot. Burlington took the lead once again in the seventh, scoring four runs. Hamilton responded right away picking up three runs to tie the game, two coming from Chiaravalle’s second home run of the game.

The Herd took the lead for good when they scored four runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth to make the final 18-13.

For the Cardinals, Nick Virdo started the game and went four and a third innings, allowing seven runs, only three were earned, on three hits, seven walks and striking out five. Kyle Adoranti relieved Virdo in the fifth and went an inning and two-thirds, allowing six runs, two of which were unearned, on five hits, four walks and striking out one. Ben Reid would take the loss, going an inning and a third before leaving the game with an apparent injury. He would give up three runs, one was unearned, on three hits, walking one batter and striking out two. Benson Merritt finished the game, allowing two runs, only one was earned, on four hits, walking one and striking out one over an inning and two-thirds.

For Burlington, Derek Zwolinski, Ben Braun and Kyle Symington would each pitch three innings. Zwolinski allowed five runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three. Braun would then start the fourth inning in relief of Braun, allowing five runs, one of which was unearned, on four hits, walking two batters and striking out five. Symington would allow three runs on five hits to get the win.

Hamilton’s next game will be on the road this Sunday afternoon as they head to Dominico Field at Christie Pits to face the Toronto Maple Leafs starting at 2:00 PM.

Winning Pitcher: Kyle Symington (1-2)
Losing Pitcher: Ben Reid (0-1)

Burlington Hitters
Justin Gideon – 3 for 6 (2 Singles, Solo Home Runs, Fielder’s Choice, Walk, Strikeout, 2 Stolen Bases, 4 Runs, 3 RBIs)
Canice Ejoh – 3 for 7 (3 Singles, Reached Base on Error, Strikeout, Stolen Base, 2 Runs, 3 RBIs)
Matt Schmidt – 2 for 4 (2 Singles, 2 Walks, Intentional Walk, Strikeout, 3 Runs, 2 RBIs)

Hamilton Hitters
Jake Chiaravalle – 3 for 6 (Double, 2-Run Home Run, 3-Run Home Run, 2 Strikeouts, 3 Runs, 5 RBIs)
Connor Bowie – 3 for 5 (Single, 2 Doubles, Walk, Stolen Base, 3 Runs)
Cal Murphy – 2 for 3 (2 Singles, 2 Walks, Strikeout, Run, 2 RBIs)

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