SOSA Staff Report
NORMAL — All good things must come to an end.
After a dominant 11-game stretch, the Chillicothe Paints (13-8) fought in extra innings Sunday evening, but eventually fell to the Normal Cornbelters by a 5-4 final in 10 innings.
Chillicothe still sits two games back of first place in the Prospect League’s East Division, behind the Danville Dans, who are 14-5.
The Paints wasted little time striking early Sunday when Gavin Homer (Penn State) smacked his third home run in as many games for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
They added three more runs in the top of the third.
Cole Andrews (Miami) drove in a run with a bases loaded hit by pitch, followed by a two-run single from Trey Smith (University of Indianapolis) for a 4-0 Paints lead.
But that was all the Paints could muster on the evening.
The Cornbelters (9-13) scored in the fifth, three times in the sixth and won on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th.
Joe Laudont (Grand Valley State) was 2-for-4 at the dish while Homer finished 1-for-3 with the long ball and two runs scored.
Paints starter Cody Orr (Tiffin) tossed five innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits while striking out a pair. Cal McAninch (2-1, Northern Kentucky) suffered the loss in 2/3 of an inning, issuing three walks and surrendering an earned run.
The Paints are back in action Tuesday evening, visiting the Champion City Kings at Carleton Davidson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
To find news, updates, and more information about the Paints, be sure to visit chillicothepaints.com.