Joyce's Homers Lead Outlaws Past Springfield

By TY

Box Score | Season Stats

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - With Nashville trailing 3-0 in the sixth inning on Monday, Outlaw catcher Doug Joyce answered the call. Joyce (Florida International) belted a grand-slam and two-run shot to account for all of Nashville’s 6 runs as the Outlaws defeated the Sliders 6-3 at Robin Roberts Stadium on Monday evening.

Trailing 3-0 in the sixth, Joyce got the Outlaws within a run when he connected on a two-run shot off Springfield starter Mark Winkelman in the top of the inning. Kevin Smith led off the sixth with a double down the right field line before Joyce launched his third homer of the year.

One inning later, newly-acquired Matt Borgschulte (Western Kentucky) was hit by Austin Cole. Johnny Amann (Judson) then reached base on a error by the right-fielder before Smith was hit by Springfield reliever Pat Gannon. With one-out and bases loaded Joyce stepped up to the plate and delivered his biggest hit of the summer, a grand slam over the outfield wall for his team-leading fourth round-tripper of the year.

Joyce’s grand slam gave the Outlaws a 6-3 lead and from there the bullpen tossed three innings of scoreless relief.

Andrew Bridgewater (Carson-Newman) allowed three runs, only one earned in six-innings while striking out four to improve to 3-1. Matt Fitton (Sacred Heart) struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh while Chris Stem (Trevecca Nazarene) allowed two-hits in a scoreless eighth inning for his Outlaw debut.

Staff closer Jon Ivie (Belmont) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his seventh save in as many chances while running his scoreless innings streak to 15.1 innings.

Borgschulte and Joyce led the Outlaws with two hits apiece. Borgschulte is 5-for-7 (.714) in his first two games as an Outlaw.

The Outlaws (2-3) will play the Danville Dans Tuesday and Wednesday in Danville, Ill. Both games will start at 6:30 p.m.