By FRANK CASH
Herald-Whig Sports Writer
Quincy Gems pitcher Sam Coonrod had only one regret Friday night. It was the pitch that Dubois County's Jeff Zahn smacked for a two-out RBI double in the top of the fourth inning. "Just that one pitch," said Coonrod, a right-hander from Carrollton, Ill., and Southern Illinois University. "I wish I had that back. That's it though. I'm pretty happy with the rest of it." Coonrod hooked up with the Bombers' Ryan Billo for an impressive Prospect League pitching duel which was cut short by rain with one out in the top of the ninth inning. After an hour delay, it was ruled an official game which West Division leader Dubois County won 2-1 at QU-Stadium. The Gems (10-6) trail the Bombers by three games as they prepare for home games against Springfield tonight and Sunday night. In his second start of the season, Coonrod pitched the first seven innings against Dubois County, striking out seven, walking none and scattering five hits. He felt he had better command of his pitches compared to last Saturday's 9-2 victory over Terre Haute. "My fastball was working wel,l and I was able to do some stuff with my slider," Coonrod said. "(Catcher Nick) Tindall called a great game back there. I've still got some work to do with my changeup. That's a big reason why I'm here." Gems manager Chris Martin has been impressed by Coonrod's work ethic. He joined the team a few days late after taking a week off following his season at SIU. "He's doing a great job," Martin said. "He's got an electric arm. He worked a lot this week to take a couple miles per hour off his slider and I think that helped him be a little more efficient." After retiring the side in the top of the first inning, Coonrod allowed leadoff singles to Cody Daily and Zahn in the second. Chris Tavares' 6-4-3 double-play ball retired Zahn, but scored Daily for a 1-0 Bombers lead. Two innings later, Dalton Rouleau hit a one-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Daily struck out, Zahn lifted a double to the left-center field wall to score Rouleau for a 2-0 lead. Quincy had only four base runners and three hits. Leadoff hitter Gregory Allen tripled in the bottom of the fourth and scored when Zach George reached base on an error. Allen singled again in the sixth and David Kuhne added a single in the eighth. Coonrod shrugged off the lack of offensive support. "That's just the way it goes sometimes," Coonrod. "These guys come out and hit the ball so well game after game. You can't expect them to do that all of the time. "You just have to go out and keep working hard on the mound." Martin wishes his batters would've been a little more supportive. "We've got to figure out how to scratch a couple of runs across early in games," Martin said. "When you have a pitcher like Coonrod who's really doing a good job, you have to recognize that as a hitter and give him some help." That starts with turning up the intensity at the plate. "(Billo) did a great job against us tonight. He's a good pitcher," Martin said. "We're in a little bit of a funk right now especially at the plate. We need to fix some things and get back on track." -- sports@whig.com/221-3365
