Long Weekend on the Road for Hannibal Hoots

The Hannibal Hoots spent the weekend battling back and coming from behind, but wound up with nothing in the win column to show for it.

Saturday night, Hannibal fell behind, caught up and got to extra innings but lost to the Aviators in Lafayette 10-7.

The home team was up 6-2 in the seventh when the Hoots went to work. With one out, shortstop Josh Lane singled, went to second on a single by right fielder Patrick Donohue and scored when catcher Sam Nozicka reached on an error. Donohue scored on a base hit by first baseman Dylan Dodd. Nozicka and Dodd scored when Chris Iazetta reached on an error. That tied the score at 6-6.

Lafayette scored once in the bottom of the seventh, but Hannibal tied it in the ninth when Donohue singled and scored on a double by third baseman Joe Roscetti.

In the tenth, two walks and a three-run resulted in a walk-off win for the Aviators.

Then, on Sunday night at Terre Haute, the Hoots matched the Rex for five innings. Terre Haute scored five runs in the first, two in the third and three in the fourth, while Hannibal scored five of their own in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth, tying the game at 10-10.

The big blow for the Hoots was a grand-slam home run in the third by pinch hitter Stephen Haring, his second pinch-homer of the season.

The Rex had the last word, though, parlaying four walks, two singles and a triple into a seven-run eighth inning, holding on for a 17-10 win.

The loss drops the Hoots to 4-13. They have the day off Monday before traveling to Danville for a doubleheader Tuesday. Hannibal is back home to face the Quincy Gems Wednesday.