Ramblers rally back from four-run deficit for road win

Down 4-0 after four innings of play at Worthington on Thursday, Key West chipped away until taking the lead for good on Ben Oglesby's RBI single in the eighth on the way to a 7-4 triumph. The late offense helped make a winner of starting pitcher Kenny Capesius, who improved to 6-0 this season. As a team, the Ramblers are 24-7 overall and 9-1 in EIHL action.

Three first-inning unearned runs allowed host Worthington to jump on top early. Key West got back into it by getting a run each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The Ramblers then got back-to-back two out RBI singles from Luis Reyes and Oglesby for the tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the eighth off of Worthington starter Travis Rahe.

First baseman Chris Briggs put an exclamation point on the victory by crushing his third home run of the season, a two-run blast that easily cleared the right field wall in the top of the ninth.

Capesius worked the first eight innings for Key West. He allowed four runs (one earned) on nine hits and no walks. He struck out five in the process of remaining unbeaten. The Ramblers then turned to Austin Bradley in the ninth. Bradley worked a 1-2-3 frame to collect his team-leading third save.

Anthony Ruden (3-for-5) and Andrew Redman (2-for-4) both notched two or more hits for the Ramblers. Redman also stole two bases and scored a run in the sixth. Ruden scored a run, drove one in and had one steal from the leadoff spot in the lineup.

Rahe ended up being charged with four earned runs over nine innings. He also went 3-for-4 at the plate. He was robbed of a possible home run in his last at bat when Key West left fielder Tony Ebel made a difficult catch up against the wall in the bottom of the eighth.

The Ramblers will be back in action on Saturday for a first-round tournament game in Cascade. Key West takes on Dubuque at 7:30 p.m.