REX Baseball took the field for the first time since 2019 today. They headed to O’Fallon, MO to take on the Hoots to start the season on a three-game road trip. This was also the first game for the Hoots in their new home.
Both teams started off slow as the game remained scoreless through the first two innings. Things heated up in the third inning for both teams though. The Terre Haute native, Will Hayes, got the first hit of the season for the REX. Hayes moved to third on a single by left fielder Alec Atkinson before being knocked in on a sacrifice fly to right field by shortstop Kody Putnam. Right fielder Jack Leverenz followed it up with a RBI single to score Atkinson. The Hoots got a run back in the bottom of the third on an error by the REX. In the top of the fourth, the REX extended their lead to 3-1 on a RBI double by first baseman Alec Brunson that scored center fielder Sammy Rowan.
However, the bottom of the fourth turned in favor of the Hoots. REX starting pitcher Benji Downs got two outs in the fourth before being pulled after walking Hoots player Elias Stevens with the bases loaded. Relief pitcher Sam Hinshaw entered the game but was unable to limit the damage as the Hoots crossed home plate five times before the REX were able to get out of the inning. REX relief pitchers Tristan Elder and Alex Reinoehl shut down the Hoots over the next four innings to hold O’Fallon at only a 6-3 lead. In the top of the ninth, the REX loaded the bases with no outs, but were only able to come away with one run. The REX ultimately fell to the Hoots 6-4.
The REX are back in action tomorrow, May 28, in Alton, IL at Lloyd Hopkins Field at 7:35 EST on Prospect League TV and on WMMC 105.9.