Capahas split doubleheader at St. Joseph, Mo.

The Plaza Tire Capahas concluded a pitching-rich series in St. Joseph, Mo., by splitting a doubleheader Saturday night.

The Capahas (9-2) captured the opener 6-0 and dropped the nightcap 3-1. The Saints (15-5) wound up getting the better of the three-game set, which included their 3-2 victory Friday night.

"They have a good ballclub," Capahas manger Jess Bolen said. "It was a series dominated by pitchers, which we knew it would be. We only scored nine runs and they only scored six runs."

Josh Joiner pitched a three-hit shutout in the opener as he struck out six and walked four over seven innings.

The Capahas had six hits, led by Lance Seasor with two. His two-run home run in the top of the first inning gave Plaza Tire all the runs it would need. The Capahas added four in the fifth inning, the big blow being Eric Horstman's two-run single.

St. Joseph scored all three second-game runs in the first inning as starting pitcher Jamie McAlister walked the first batter, then hit three batters in a row before being lifted because of an elbow problem.

Matt Stroup relieved and allowed two more runs to score, with those also being charged to McAlister. Stroup went the rest of the way, giving up five hits, striking out eight and walking one.

Saints starter John Sheets carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, as the Capahas wound up with just two hits. They got their lone run on Wade Walter's RBI ground out in the seventh.

Riverdogs split

The Cape Girardeau Riverdogs split a doubleheader against the Southern Illinois Merchants at Shawnee (Ill.) Community College, winning 8-5 and losing 6-4.

Tyler Nelson was the winning pitcher in the opener. He worked all seven innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out eight and walking two.

The Riverdogs (4-6) had eight hits, led by Billy Palmer with a home run, a double and two RBIs. Bryan Austin had two hits and two RBIs, while Adam Friga added two RBIs.

Matt Davis took the second-game loss, allowing seven hits and four earned runs in six innings. He struck out three and walked two.

Friga had three of the Riverdogs' seven hits, including a homer and three RBIs. Palmer added two hits.

The Riverdogs play the St. Louis Printers today in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Capaha Field.

-- From staff reports