After losing the doubleheader on July 4th to the Lafayette Aviators, the REX had their chance for revenge on Military Night as they took on their Wabash River Division rivals again. The REX have had a slow start to the second half of the season with a 1-4 record. The Aviators looked to continue their dominance of the Prospect League with a 4-1 record in the second half entering last night.
The Aviators took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the REX were able to tie it up on sacrifice fly by designated hitter Alec Brunson that scored second baseman Alec Atkinson. The Aviators responded and took a 3-1 lead after scoring two in the fourth. The REX got one back in the same inning on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Sammy Rowan that scored catcher Dylan Janke. In the fifth, Brunson tied it up with a home run. That is his ninth bomb of the season and he is now sixth in home runs in the Prospect League.
In the bottom of the sixth, Wabash Valley's Own took a 5-3 lead. The first score was when Rowan scored on a single by Atkinson and then shortstop Colter Couillard-Rodak scored when Brunson was walked with the bases loaded. In the top of the eighth, the Aviators came flying back to tie the game at five and then in the top of the ninth they would score two more to take a 7-5 lead over the REX. The REX were unable to mount a comeback and lost a heartbreaker to Lafayette.
The REX play on the road today. They will be taking on the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp at 8:05 PM EST.