Offense explodes as Ramblers pummel Cascade

The Ramblers put behind a frustrating loss to Dubuque in the Rickardsville Tournament and won going away over Cascade in Peosta on Tuesday evening. A hot Cascade team that has enjoyed a resurgent season could not recover from Key West's six-run second inning as the Ramblers (11-10) won 13-3 in six innings.

Cascade actually jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings, but Key West then struck with a big inning that set the tone for the game. Eleven Ramblers came to the plate in the second as part of a six-run, four-hit frame that included two walks and two hit batters. Tanner Denlinger and Chris Briggs both notched RBI doubles to help get the Rambler offense back on track.

Key West then added three runs in the third, one in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth to end the game by the 10-run rule. The Ramblers tallied at least one run in every inning except for the first in support of starting pitcher Matt Lozano (pictured).

Dan Spain (2-for-3, one run, one RBI), Denlinger (2-for-4, three runs, two RBIs) and Matt Knabel (2-for-4, one run, two RBIs) each recorded two hits for Key West. Briggs went 1-for-1 with three walks and three RBIs.

Lozano threw all six innings move to 4-1 while picking up his third complete game of the season. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out eight, bumping his team leading punch out total to 47 in 41.2 innings.

Both McCullough (3-for-3) and Dan Lynch (2-for-3) registered multiple hits for visiting Cascade.

The Ramblers have now scored 10 or more runs on seven occasions this season. On the other hand, Key West has been held to two runs or less seven times.

The Ramblers are back in action on Friday night in the first round of the Cascade Tournament. Key West will challenge Bellevue with first pitch slated for 8:30 p.m.