Bombers rally in the eighth to take decisive lead over Owensboro

The crowd of 1,600 got their money’s worth when the Dubois County Bombers got their fifth consecutive win last night after clawing their way out of a four-run deficit starting in the fifth inning.

The Oilers broke on top, scoring in three of the first four innings, jumping to a 4-0 advantage. Three of the first four Oiler batters singled in the first, but a double play stopped the rally with one run in.

After the first four Oilers reached in the second, Freeman retired the next three hitters on ground balls, escaping with two runs scored.

The first three Oilers reached in the fourth as well. Once again, Freeman and the Bombers defense minimized the damage, allowing but one run.

It was a game of missed opportunities for the Oilers. Bombers starter Zach Freeman worked out of one jam after another to keep Owensboro within reach.

Meanwhile, Oilers hurler John Hakemoller was retiring the Bombers with little effort. After four innings of play, the Oilers led 4-0. In addition, six Oilers had been stranded on the bases in four frames while the Bombers had failed to advance a runner past first base.

Things did not look promising for the home team.

Then Hakemoller tired, and Dubois County stormed through the Owensboro relief pitchers one at a time. Two hit batsmen, a single, a walk, and a balk pushed across the Bombers first two runs in the fifth, cutting the lead to 4-2.

The sixth inning saw an unearned run for the Oilers in the top half answered by a bases loaded walk, adding a run to the Bombers cause, making it 5-3 with Owensboro on top.

In the seventh, Dubois County tallied two more with a pair of walks, hit batters, and a bases-loaded double off the bat of newcomer Daniel Johnson to tie the contest at five.

Then the Bombers blew it open in the bottom of the 8th, totaling five runs on three more hit batsmen, two walks, an error, a wild pitch, and a single base hit.

Dubois County never managed to retire the Oilers in order all night, but the Bombers bullpen followed Freeman’s lead, limiting the damage of one rally after another. Konner Eck closed out the sixth and worked a scoreless seventh, allowing only a hit and a walk. Hunter Spencer followed Eck out of the bullpen. Spencer yielded one run on four hits over two frames. He gets credit for the win, his first of the season.

Having received the benefit of eight walks and eight hit batters, offensive stars for the Bombers were somewhat limited. However, Johnson made an impressive debut for Dubois County, going 3-for-4 with a double. Morgan DePew added a pair of hits.

The win was the Bombers fifth in a row, improving their league-leading record to 9-4. Fulton and Madisonville are tied for second, two games back.

Owensboro falls to 4-9. They are in fifth place, five games off the league pace.

Both teams are on the road tonight; Owensboro travels to Hopkinsville while Dubois County makes the long trip to Fulton.