'Dogs Win Again

LINCOLN, Neb. * Kyle Ruwe took the hill for the first time in his collegiate career, and he came out with a win as the Lincoln Saltdogs defeated the Joliet JackHammers 6-2 on Saturday night. It was the eighth straight win for the Dogs against Joliet. Ruwe (1-0) went 5 innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Lincoln roughed up Joliet starter Amad Stephens (4-2) who only went 1 2/3 innings allowing five runs.

For the second straight night the Dogs got on the board in the first inning. Lincoln hit three straight singles in the inning. Jake Whitesides started the run with a hit to right field and two more hits from Bryan Warner and Pichi Balet scored Whitesides. With two outs Kevin Sullivan ripped a double over Josh Loggins' head in right field for the second RBI of the inning.

More runs came for Lincoln in their half of the second inning. Three straight singles loaded the bases for Cory Harris. On the second pitch of the at-bat Stephens threw a wild pitch moving all the runners up a base and scoring Albenis Machado from third. Two more runs came across from a ground out by Jake Whitesides and a sacrifice fly by Bryan Warner. Joliet's starter was pulled after Pichi Balet hit a two out double to left field. He was replaced by Damien Myers, who got the next out and got the JackHammers out of the inning.

Kyle Ruwe retired the first seven JackHammers he faced before Brad Flanders hit a line drive double to left field in the third inning. However Ruwe retired the next two batters including his third strikeout of the night.

Joliet broke the shutout in the top of the fifth inning. Kyle Logan hit a one out single, stole a base and scored on an error by Albenis Machado to put the first run on the board.

The Saltdogs scored in their half of the fifth inning. Balet started the inning with a walk and he scored on the very next pitch, a double into deep right center by Josh Patton. Lincoln had runners on the corners with one out but a great throw from Logan in center field cut down Patton as he tried score on the fly ball by Machado.

In the top of the sixth inning the JackHammers had the bases loaded with one out but they put one run on the board. Howe hit a fly ball to right scoring a run, but Josh Loggins was thrown out trying to advance to third and foul pop fly to the catcher ended the Joliet threat with only one run scored.

The Saltdogs look to complete their third sweep of the JackHammers on Sunday in the final game of the series. Humberto Cardenas will take the hill for Lincoln and he will face-off with Luis Villarreal for Joliet. Start time is 5:05 p.m.

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