Redbirds' pitching, defense no-shows in loss at O'Fallon

O’FALLON – The pitching that provided a 3-1 start in the Southwestern Conference for Alton Redbirds baseball did not make the bus ride to O’Fallon.

Neither did the defense.

The O’Fallon Panthers scored often early to beat the Redbirds 12-5 on Monday at Blazier Field. O’Fallon, which has 10 of its last 11 meetings with the Redbirds, improves to 7-5 and 1-2 in the SWC. Alton drops to 6-5 and 3-2 in the conference with its winning streak snapped at four in a row.

Alton broke on top in the first inning with James Vambaketes’ leadoff single becoming a run on Owen Macias RBI single. But the Panthers responded with three runs in the bottom of the first, four runs in the second and five in the third to put the Redbirds down 12-1.

The Redbirds committed five errors that led six of O’Fallon’s 12 runs scored unearned. Alton pitching had posted a 0.90 ERA in its first four SWC games – skewed by 18-0 and 22-0 four-inning routs of East St. Louis – that included a split of 2-1 games with Belleville West.

But O’Fallon touched six different Redbirds pitchers for 10 hits while drawing eight walks. Starter Owen Macias took the loss, giving three runs on three hits, two walks and one strikeout before departing after one inning.

The Redbirds avoided a five-inning loss by scoring three runs in the fourth inning on singles by Jackson Brooks and Preston Schepers, two walks and two of O’Fallon’s four errors.

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Alton reliever Ian Barnard delivers to the plate during a scoreless fourth inning against O’Fallon in a SWC baseball game Monday at Blazier Field in O’Fallon.

Alton lefty Ian Barnard came out of the bullpen to halt the Panthers’ scoring streak with a scoreless fourth inning. But the Redbirds’ wait for their first victory at Blazier Field since 2011 remains on hold.

Zach Rhein picked up the win for O’Fallon, giving four runs (two earned) on four hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Andrew Barbee hit a Redbird and walked three in three innings of hitless relief for the save. Kellen Scruggs had two hits and three RBI, Will Millard and Jacob Hahs both had two hits and Kendall Brookins and Corey Quintal both drove in two runs for the Panthers.