Schark’s two home runs puts him in tie for lead in Prospect League

NORMAL, Ill. — Matt Schark hit a pair of two-run homers to move into a tie for the Prospect League lead as the Quincy Gems knocked off the Normal CornBelters 13-7 on Saturday night in the Corn Crib.

Schark hit his fifth home run of the season, a two-run blast, after Danny Sperling walked to lead off the third inning. Sperling walked with two outs in the fourth. When Michael Sclafani came on in relief, Schark greeted him with another two-run homer.

The Gems scored three runs in the second inning to take the lead for good. Trent Youngblood doubled and scored on a single by Jayce Maag. Gino D’Alessio drove in Maag with a groundout, and Jackson Galloway drove in Bryce Miller with a single.

Jake Skrine hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run fifth inning for Quincy (5-10). The Gems wrapped up their scoring in the eighth. Galloway drove in Youngblood on a fielder’s choice, and Skrine drove in two runs with a double.

Starter Bennett Stice from Palmyra, Mo., pitched the first four innings for Quincy, allowing three runs and four hits. Reliever Cole Parkhill from Quincy earned the victory. He gave up two runs and three hits in three innings while striking out five.

Schark and Skrine both finished with four runs batted in. D’Alessio, Skrine, Schark, Youngblood and Miller all had two hits. The Gems are three games behind Clinton and Burlington, who are tied for first place in the West-Great River Division.