Ramblers defeat Worthington, prepare for EIHL playoffs

The Key West Ramblers scored three runs in the final three innings to pull away from Worthington and grab a 7-4 road win on Thursday night. The win pushed Key West to 31-9, tying the 2010 Ramblers for the most victories in franchise history.

Cam Stewart made his first career start on the mound, narrowly missing out on his first career victory. Stewart was pulled from the game after facing three batters in the sixth-inning. He left with men on first and second, the latter scoring to tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth.

Key West put up four runs through six innings by way of run-scoring RBI singles by Jared Munson and Cody Leach in the second before Leach's two-run single in the sixth gave the Ramblers a 4-3 lead.

Ryan Kelly notched an RBI single in the seventh, proving to be the game-winner. The Ramblers then added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth, keyed by a Matt Knabel double.

Kelly relieved Stewart in the sixth and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings and earned his second win of the season. Dan Spain pitched the ninth and picked up his second save.

The Ramblers now look forward to Bernard on Saturday at 12 p.m. before the EIHL playoffs get under way on Sunday. Key West earned the No. 2 seed in the league and drew No. 3-seeded Cascade. In the other match-up, No. 1 Dubuque will take on No. 4 Farley. All games will be played at Petrakis Park - homefield of the top-seeded Dubuque Blues.

Key West will battle Cascade at 12 p.m. with Dubuque and Farley set to follow. The two semifinal winners will meet in the championship game at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday.