The Redlegs dropped a close contest in game 1 of a double header against the Wright Knights on Sunday losing 3-0. This would mark the first time the Redlegs have been shut out since the 2013 playoffs when they lost to the Dayton Rangers 4-0.

Kevin Campbell, fresh off a 6-week rehab of a “frozen shoulder”, took the hard luck loss as the Redlegs couldn’t muster any offensive support behind his strong outing. Campbell went 5 1/3 innings allowing only 1 earned run while striking out 2 in the start. Campbell blanked the Knights through the first 5 innings, but ran out of gas in the 6th as the Knights finally were able to scrape together a few runs which would be more than enough to emerge victorious. Jackson Millard came on in relief and was able to fan two Knights hitters to get out of the jam.

The Redlegs did threaten on two occasions but inning ending double plays killed both rally attempts. Jackson Millard singled to start off the 4th inning, later Brandon Howard singled and James Robinson was plunked by a pitch to load the bases with one out. But a hard ground ball right back up the middle off the bat of Matt Morrison was corralled and turned into a double play to end the threat. Joey Watson and Mike Hartman delivered back to back hits in the 5th but a fly out followed by a bloop line out that resulted in the Redlegs getting doubled up at first got the Knights out of the jam.

The Redlegs were able to kill some Knight rallies thanks to some great defensive work. After a leadoff walk to start the game Kyle Arend was able to handle a hot shot ground ball at 3rd base and start the 5-4-3 double play. Arend also made a great diving snag on a line drive that took away a lead off hit in the 5th. Joey Watson made a nice snag on a foul pop up that came down right along the fence behind home plate to record the first out in the 2nd inning.

The most exciting play of the game came in the top of the 5th. With the score standing at 0-0 and a runner on 1st with 2 outs, Knights leadoff man Alan Hooper lined a ball over the head of left fielder Matt Mattice. With the runner on the move, Mattice snatched the ball up at the fence and fired to Arend at 3rd, who turned and delivered a one hopper to Joey Watson at the plate who snagged it and applied the tag in the nick of time to get the out.

The Redlegs fell to 6-5 on the year with the loss, but would bounce back nicely in the 4:00pm night cap.

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