Charleston's Blake Gaddis slides around New Madrid County catcher Brandon Bennett for an inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning Monday night at Charleston. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat) [Click to enlarge]

CHARLESTON -- In Monday's game for the Charleston Squirrels (13-15), the fifth inning was the deciding factor in their win against New Madrid County (6-5).

The Squirrels pounded out five hits in the bottom half of the fifth that was highlighted by a two-run inside-the-park home run by Blake Gaddis into center field. Charleston went on to score two more runs and make it a 7-3 game, which ended up being the final score.

"We get a few guys on and a few guys over and we hit the ball well," Squirrels head coach Michael Minner said. "Gaddis drives a ball deep to center and we get an inside-the-park home run, and we kind of got a little more free and easy at the plate."

Even though the Squirrels bats spoke the loudest in that inning, what happened in the top half of the fifth might have been the key.

As the Squirrels were holding a 3-2 lead going into the fifth inning, New Madrid County was able to work the bases loaded against Charleston's starting pitcher Matt Armstrong and eventually tie the game on a sacrifice fly by Cody Cook.

After the next batter flew out to center field for the second out of the inning, Sean Thomason was able to work a walk from Armstrong to again load the bases and put New Madrid County in a position to do major damage in the inning.

"Armstrong looked real good early," said Minner about his starting pitcher. "I think he threw 97 pitches and just ran out of gas in the fifth. I thought he threw some good pitches in some counts where they knew what was coming and beat them with his stuff."

Minner decided that it was time to change pitchers and sent in the left hander, Tyler McCann, to try and close out the inning.

McCann did just that as he coaxed a pop-out to the third baseman, Garrison Eastman, to strand three base runners and keep the game tied at three.

"We get out of a jam, and that's big," said Minner about McCann. "He's getting better every time out. He's throwing strikes more and getting back to where he's comfortable on the mound.

McCann received the win in his 2 1/3 innings of work as he gave up two hits, no walks and no strikeouts.

Jay Singleton received the loss for New Madrid County, who have recently been shorthanded when it comes to who's throwing on the mound.

"That's the first ball game that he has actually pitched for us this year," New Madrid County head coach Kevin Lyons said about his starter. "He came out here today and pitched as well as anybody has thrown all year long. This is just a really good hitting Charleston team."

Offensively, the Squirrels had nine hits in the game and was led by Gaddis who went 2-for-3 with the two-run inside-the-parker and a single. Eric Rowling was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Mark Freed also had two hits in three chances. Zach Rowland had two RBIs with one hit and a sacrifice fly, while Tyler Whybark doubled in a run.

"We swung the bats pretty well tonight," Minner said. "I thought we swung them awfully well to only score seven runs."

As for New Madrid County, they out-hit the Squirrels with 10. Clint Tanner, Singleton and Kyle Marshall all went 2-for-4. Cody Cook was 0-for-4 on the day but drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.