Loons fall in extra innings

For nine innings it was a pitchers duel. In the tenth, it was a dropped fly ball by center fielder Jovanny Rosario that allowed the go-ahead runs to score as the Great Lakes Loons fell to the South Bend Silver Hawks Tuesday at Dow Diamond by a score of 4-1.

Bryan Morris fired five no-hit innings in his first action in 10 days. Victor Garate entered in relief to keep the no-hitter in tact until the leadoff batter in the seventh, Matt Oxendine, singled. Garate surrendered the game-tying run in the eighth inning. Miguel Ramirez (1-1) allowed his first three runs of the season in the 10th inning to pick up the loss, his first of the season. All three runs were unearned.

The Loons struck first in the third when Alfredo Silverio lined two-out RBI single up the middle to give the Loons the 1-0 lead.

In the eighth, South Bend center fielder Evan Frey’s ground ball to the left side found its way into left field to score a run and tie the game at one.

With the bases loaded in the tenth, South Bend pushed across the game’s decisive runs when Michael Mee launched a deep fly ball to center field, hitting the heel of Rosario’s glove and falling safely allowing all three South Bend runners to score and give the Silver Hawks a 4-1 advantage.

Silverio and Andrew Lambo paced the Loons with two hits apiece in the ballgame.

South Bend starter Jordan Norberto pitched five innings allowing an unearned run in his evening on the hill. Evan Scribner hurled 2 1/3 innings late in the ballgame and picked up the victory improving his record to 2-3.

The Loons fall to 17-19 while the Silver Hawks improve to 14-21.

The Loons and Silver Hawks continue their four game series from Dow Diamond Wednesday night. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Daigoro Rondon is scheduled to start for Great Lakes. Make sure you make it to Dow Diamond for “The Science of Baseball” exhibit presented by Dow Corning where area high school students will be participating in a baseball themed science fair with the chance to win a total of $11,000.