Written by: Alex Brophy
LAFAYETTE, IN. –
The Aviators fell to 15-19 after another 4-2 loss to the Chillicothe Paints. Both squads finished with 12 hits, but early momentum swung in the direction of the Paints. In the first three innings, Chillicothe went 9 for 10 with three runs scored. Sprocket, Williams, Orr, and Gbur would finish two or more hits.
Lafayette’s bats were slow to start, but Tre Hondras gave the Fly Boys their life. He went 3 for 5 with one run scored and provided the necessary momentum shift. Lafayette would score in the bottom of the third when Craig drove in Hondras with an RBI single. Lafayette would only score once more when Fitzpatrick’s RBI single scored Bedgood.
The box score tells a different story than the game. While the Paints seemed to control the pace of the game, Lafayette went swing for swing with Chillicothe. Tyler Norris struggled as the Aviator starter, allowing 10 hits for four runs. His three innings pitched gave him the loss and forced the Aviators to turn to their bullpen quicker than expected. Connor Fries, the reliever pitched three innings for six punch-outs before he was pulled.
The Paints pitching was extremely efficient. Starter Dylan Taliaferro pitched seven innings allowing nine hits, two runs, and two walks while tying his single-game strikeout record (7). Taliaferro improves to 4-1 on the season, while reliever Evan Wolf added his third save to the books after pitching the ninth inning.
Lafayette drops to 15-19 and gets ready for another familiar opponent. Fans can tune into Prospect League TV tomorrow, July 11, when the Aviators take on the Danville Dans. The first pitch will be thrown at 7:00 p.m. Lafayette is 1-4 versus the Dans and also suffered a 4-2 loss at Danville just two days ago.
