Hannibal Hoots Win Seventh Straight, 6-3 over Terre Haute

The Hannibal Hoots are as hot as a Missouri summer, winning their seventh in a row Monday with a 6-3 win over the division-leading Terre Haute Rex at Clemens Field.

Hannibal opened the scoring in the first, as DH Dylan Dodd walked, third baseman Joe Roscetti doubled, first baseman Connor Pasko drove in Dodd with an infield hit and Roscetti scored on a wild pitch.

Terre Haute made it 2-1 in the third. The Hoots responded with a run in the fifth on a walk to left fielder Wyatt Whitman, a ground out, a single by second baseman Josh Lane and an RBI sacrifice fly by Dodd.

The Rex tied the game in the seventh on a walk, a double, an infield hit and a sacrifice fly, but Hannibal put the game away in the eighth. Pinch hitter Michael Nielsen walked and was replaced with pinch runner Jose Mercado, who went to third on a double by catcher Zak Whalin. Shortstop Daunte Decello was intentionally walked to load the bases. Mercado was driven in on a sac fly by Whitman, and Whalin and Decello came home on a double by center fielder Tye Thixton.

Graham Kuck, the third of four Hoots pitcher, threw a scoreless eighth and picked up the win.

The win improves Hannibal's record to 11-17. Terre Haute falls to 18-9.

The Hoots face the Quincy Gems at QU Stadium at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, with the same two teams squaring off in a double header at Clemens Field at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday.