REX Win in Lafayette and Keep the Ruoff Trophy in Terre Haute

REX held off a furious Lafayette comeback to earn a 9-7 win on Saturday night, completing a perfect 4-0 season series against the Aviators and clinching the Ruoff Mortgage King of the Wabash River Series for the second straight year. The Ruoff Trophy stays in Terre Haute

REX jumped ahead early in the 1st as Felix Polanco grounded out to shortstop, scoring Nomar Garcia to make it 1-0.

In the 4th, the offense exploded. Emil Estrella launched a solo home run to left to start the inning. Gabe Wright followed later with a two-run double, scoring Garcia and Drew Carter. Polanco then ripped a triple to left field, bringing home Wright as REX stretched its lead to 5-0.

REX tacked on two more in the 5th when Eli Riley singled to left, scoring Estrella and Wally Diaz. An error on the play allowed Riley to take second, with one of the runs unearned.

The offence kept rolling in the 6th inning as Diaz drove in Delvis Claudio with a double to center, and Estrella added another RBI with a single to right, scoring Diaz to give REX a 9-0 advantage.

Lafayette answered with three runs in the bottom of the 6th. Wilson drove in one with a single, and Johns followed with a two-RBI single before being tagged out stretching for second.

The Aviators continued to push in the 8th. Collins roped a two-run double to left, followed by an RBI double from Solitaria. Johns added a groundout RBI to bring Lafayette within two, but the REX bullpen shut the door to preserve the win.

Samuel Guadamuz kept his stellar season going tonight with another great start. He went deep into the 6th, striking out 10

With the 9-7 victory, REX stays perfect against Lafayette on the season and brings the King of the Wabash Trophy back to Terre Haute for the second consecutive year

REX are back in action against the Chillicothe Paints on June 27th at Bob Warn Field. Gates open at 5:30 pm EST, with first pitch at 6:30.