The Catfish defeat the LumberKings for the Western Conference Championship

The Basics
Score: Cape Catfish 3, Clinton LumberKings 1
Records:  Cape Catfish (38-20, 2-0), Clinton LumberKings (35-20, 1-1)
Location: Capaha Field - Cape Girardeau, MO

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO  – The Cape Catfish advance to the Prospect League Championship Series with a 3-1 victory over the Clinton LumberKings Sunday at Capaha Field.

The Western Conference Champion Catfish will travel to Lafayette for game one of the Championship Series on Tuesday.

The Catfish found offense late as the two starting pitchers dueled to begin.

Catfish starter Kam Dohogne tossed five 1-run innings, only surrendering 2 hits and striking out 3.

LumberKings starter Jaqson Tejada let his defense work, only striking out 1 and allowing 1 run on 5 hits across 6+ innings.

The first run of the contest came in the 5th. Sam Wiese doubled to lead off the inning, and two outs later, Noah Thein drove Wiese home with a single to give the LumberKings a 1-0 lead.

The LumberKings threatened to add insurance in the 7th, but stranded the bases loaded as reliever Ranard Grace worked out of it for the Catfish.

The Catfish carried the momentum to the bottom of the 7th. A walk and a single put runners at the corners with 1 out for Caleb Niehaus. Whose sacrifice bunt tied the game 1-1.

Then the blast came in the 8th. With two outs and a runner on, Nazarenus launched the game-winning go-ahead home run to give the Catfish the 3-1 lead.

Walker Brodt closed the door for the Catfish in the 9th to pick up the save.

Turning Point
Shutout through 6 innings, the Catfish scored the final 3 runs of the contest, and drew ahead for the first time on the Nazarenus home run.

Inside The Box Score

• The Catfish bullpen tossed 4 shutout innings, only allowing 3 hits and 2 walks.

• Will Schufreider took the loss for the LumberKings in relief, giving up the 2-run home run.

• The Catfish outhit the LumberKings 7-4, and only struck out once.

• Nazarenus was the hero, recording the only multi-hit performance for the Catfish.

Notes

• This is the third Prospect League Championship appearance for the Catfish in 6 seasons.

• The LumberKings have won just two playoff games in four appearances, falling in the Conference Championship twice.

• The Catfish will look for their second Championship, their first coming in 2021.

Up Next
The Catfish advance to the Prospect League Championship Series and will face the Lafayette Aviators. Game one is set for 7:00 PM (ET) in Lafayette on Tuesday, with game two and if needed game three to be played at Cape on Thursday and Friday.