Bellevue hands O'Connor his first loss

The Ramblers continued to struggle at the plate as they fell, 5-1, to Bellevue in the first round of the Cascade Tournament on Monday night. Bellevue starting pitcher Justin Eissens held Key West (24-7) to only five hits on his way to earning the victory.

Sean O'Connor, making his eighth start on the mound for Key West, took his first loss of the season after winning his first seven decisions. O'Connor lacked sharpness as he walked five and hit a batter in a six-inning, complete-game effort. He gave up seven hits and struck out two.

Bellevue got its first run in the second-inning by way of an error. Eissens knocked home a pair of runs with a two-run single in the third to make it 3-0. After a balk by O'Connor plated the fourth run, Brett Boeckenstadt capped Bellevue's scoring with an RBI single.

Matt Knabel's groundball to first, which was misplayed, allowed Tim Carty to score the only Key West run in the sixth. Carty had reached with a double to begin the inning. It would be the Ramblers' only extra base-hit on the night.

The Ramblers are back in action Tuesday at 7 p.m. when they take on Monticello in an EIHL game in Peosta.