By Eli Halverson | July 17, 2025

Following an absolutely brutal defeat in game one of their series against the Flag City Sluggers, the Joes looked to bounce back and even the series on the road in game two.

While the first inning passed without a run, Hamilton struck in the second. After a leadoff out, the Joes loaded the bases behind a Brett Denby single, Travis Yankovich walk, and Mark Nowak single. Then, recent addition Preston Lynch stepped up and delivered a two-run double into the gap, scoring Denby and Yankovich. Diego DeCello followed with a ground ball that plated Nowak, giving the Joes a 3–0 lead.

Flag City got one back in the bottom of the fourth, but then Mother Nature took over. Rain halted the game, and the remainder was scheduled to be played the following day at Foundation Field.

Play resumed with a 5:30 PM first pitch in the top of the fifth. Jackson Wang sparked the offense with a leadoff double, and after some small ball and a single through the gap by Brett Denby, both Wang and Jaxson Christ came around to score. That extended the Joes' lead to 5–1.

Justin Hoevel took the mound for Hamilton and immediately made an impact. He retired the side in order in both the fifth and sixth innings, relying on ground balls and efficient pitching.

In the seventh, Christ singled and was followed by a double from Christopher Roa. After an intentional walk to Yankovich, Mark Nowak delivered an infield single to bring Christ home. However, the Joes left the bases loaded and settled for just one run, extending their lead to 6–1.

Hoevel continued to dominate, inducing a 6–4–3 double play in the seventh and breezing through the eighth. He came back out for the ninth and was charged with a run after an error at first by Nowak. Still, it was Hoevel’s best outing of the year — allowing just one unearned run over four innings of work.

Sam Pece entered to close it out, retiring the final batter and securing a much-needed 6–2 win for the Joes to force a rubber match in the series.