Capahas drop doubleheader in St. Louis

~ Plaza Tire lost a pair of well-pitched ballgames against the Printers.

The Plaza Tire Capahas received two strong pitching performances Saturday but still suffered a pair of losses on the road.

The St. Louis Printers swept the doubleheader, 4-1 and 3-2, despite the fact the Capahas held a 13-11 advantage in hits. Both games were seven innings.

"These were just two good ballgames, with very good pitching by both teams," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen, whose squad fell to 14-8.

"Our pitching was more than good enough to win, we just couldn't come up with the big hits we needed," he added.

Anthony Maupin carried a two-hit shutout and a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning of the opener.

Maupin struck out the first two hitters but the next five batters reached -- on four hits and a walk -- as the Printers scored four runs.

Maupin wound up with a six-hitter, striking out 10 and walking one.

"He was cruising along and then all of a sudden they exploded," Bolen said.

Bryan Kurt had two of Plaza Tire's six hits. The Capahas' only run came in the third inning as Robby Moore doubled and scored on Chris Gibson's single.

Bogenpohl suffers loss

In the nightcap, Chad Bogenpohl allowed three hits and three runs in the first inning, then blanked the Printers the rest of the way.

Bogenpohl finished with a five-hitter, striking out four and walking three.

Moore and Gibson each had two of Plaza Tire's seven hits. The Capahas scored both their runs in the seventh inning but their rally fell short.

Cape Girardeau native Billy Roll was the winning pitcher in the second game, working five shutout innings. He allowed four hits, struck out two and walked none.

"He's a good pitcher," Bolen said.

The Capahas return to action today with a 1 p.m. home doubleheader against Springfield, Ill.