Capahas improve to 15-1 with sweep of Riverdogs

The Plaza Tire Capahas have won all five meetings against the Charleston Riverdogs so far this summer.

But three of the games have gone to the wire, including Sunday's 6-5 victory in the opener of a doubleheader at Hillhouse Park in Charleston, Mo.

The Capahas had a much easier time in the nightcap, finishing off the sweep with a 16-0 romp that was stopped after five innings by the 10-run rule.

Plaza Tire improved to 15-1 and pushed its winning streak to eight, with six of those victories coming in the past five days. The Capahas' lone loss was to the St. Louis Raging Bulls, who Plaza Tire is 4-1 against.

"I think anybody would be surprised to be 15-1," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "But we've been playing well."

Capahas second baseman Jordan Kimball throws out a Riverdogs player during Sunday’s doubleheader in Charleston, Mo. (WAYNE MCPHERSON ~ Special to Southeast Missourian)

Charleston (5-9) easily could have dealt the Capahas three losses. The Riverdogs dropped a 4-3 decision at Plaza Tire as part of a June 2 doubleheader and fell 2-1 in 14 innings at home Wednesday night.

Sunday's opener saw the Riverdogs lead most of the way before the Capahas rallied with three runs over the final two innings.

"They've got a nice team. I can't say enough about them," said Bolen, whose squad has one more contest against the Riverdogs on July 12 at Capaha Field.

The Capahas scored a first-inning run in the opener, but Charleston countered with four unearned runs in the bottom of the frame due to a two-out error.

Plaza Tire chipped away but still trailed 5-3 after five innings.

Capahas pitcher Kyle Marshall catches a pop fly during the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Riverdogs in Charleston, Mo.

The Capahas tied the score with two runs in the sixth inning and went ahead for good in the seventh.

Brandon Bennett was hit by a pitch leading off the seventh. He stole second, advanced to third on a one-out ground ball and scored on a two-out wild pitch.

Kyle Marshall pitched all seven innings for the victory. He allowed seven hits and five runs, one earned, while striking out six and walking two.

Jordan Kimball had three of the Capahas' nine hits. Bennett and Kenton Parmley added two hits apiece.

Blake Gaddis had three of Charleston's seven hits. Missouri State pitcher Tyler Thompson suffered the loss.

"We beat a good pitcher," Bolen said about Thompson. "He throws hard."

The Capahas romped in the nightcap.

Plaza Tire scored in every inning but the second -- highlighted by a six-run fourth -- and banged out 19 hits while Charleston had only one hit.

"It was one of those games," Bolen said. "We hit the ball well, and everything we hit fell in."

Mark Hagedorn led the way with three hits and five RBis.

Parmley had three hits.

Bennett, Adam Blum, Logan Bartels and Grant Gray all added two hits.

Parmley, Blum and Bennett all tripled. Bennett, Bartels and Gray each delivered two RBIs.

Skylar Cobb continued his dominant summer with four shutout innings for the win. He allowed one hit, struck out six and walked one.

Cobb, who improved to 3-0, has not given up a run over 15 innings. He has allowed just nine hits, while striking out 26 and walking five.

Parmley, the Capahas' shortstop, made a rare mound appearance and worked a hitless fifth inning. He struck out two and walked two.

The Capahas are back in action Tuesday with a 7:30 p.m. game against the St. Louis Printers in Ste. Genevieve, Mo.

Plaza Tire then returns home for a pair of doubleheaders, at 1:30 p.m. Saturday against the St. Louis Golden Spikes and at 2 p.m. Sunday against the I-70 Thunder from Flora, Ill.