08/09/2006 10:45 PM - JOLIET, Ill. – The Kansas City T-Bones (36-38, 14-12) came up short, falling to the Joliet JackHammers (28-44, 12-12) by a 12-9 count in front of 4,937 fans Wednesday evening at Silver Cross Field. Chad Sosebee blasted three-run home runs in both the sixth and seventh innings in the T-Bones losing effort.

Kansas City took the early advantage in the third inning, using a double and two singles to plate one run in their half of the frame. Doug Dreher opened the inning with a double to the right field corner. Dreher then advanced to third on a single to left field by Sosebee, and scored the game’s first run on a single to left by Zach Norman, giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the third inning.

Joliet responded in the bottom of the third, tying the game on two singles and a wild pitch, sending the game into the fourth inning tied 1-1. The JackHammers then began to rattle the T-Bones in the fourth inning, using a double, three singles, a walk, an error, and a hit batsman to plate four runs for a 5-1 lead after four complete innings.

Kansas City began to chip away at their four-run deficit in the fifth when Norman hit his second home run as a T-Bone, a solo shot that narrowed the Joliet lead to 5-2. But Joliet answered right back with a run of their own thanks to a single and a walk to take a 6-2 lead.

The T-Bones assumed the role of the comeback kid in the sixth, scoring four runs on four hits and two Joliet errors to tie the game. Craig Hurba recorded his first hit of the game as the inning’s leadoff batter. After stealing second base, Hurba would score when Darryl Lawhorn sent a sizzler to right field. Lawhorn advanced to second on a throwing error by Joliet’s right fielder. Another JackHammer error allowed Dreher to reach first base, before Sosebee launched his third home run of the season, a three run shot over the left field fence that scored Lawhorn and Dreher in the process. When the dust settled, the T-Bones had tied the game at 6-6 going into the bottom of the sixth.

The JackHammers returned the favor in their half of the sixth, sending 11 men to the plate and coming out with six runs on five singles and a double, reclaiming control of the game in the process. After six complete innings of play, Joliet led 12-6.

A six run deficit didn’t stop the T-Bones from scoring more. After watching Eddie Pearson and Hurba smack back-to-back singles, Sosebee stepped to the plate once again and turned on a 2-1 count and launched his second three-run bomb of the game over the left field fence. When their turn at bat was over, the T-Bones had crawled back into the game, trailing 12-9 going into the bottom of the seventh.

Pitchers took control for both teams through the final two innings. James Beever held the JackHammers hitless through the final two innings while Derrick Ellison and Amad Stephens combined to hold the T-Bones hitless through the same period.

Beever allowed just one hit in his 2.2 innings of work, walking one and striking out two JackHammers. T-Bones reliever Logan McElwain (1-3) was hit with the loss after giving up six runs, four of which were earned, in just one third of an inning on the mound. Matt Smith (3-3) picked up the win for Joliet while Amad Stephens picked up the save.

The series concludes Thursday with a 7:05 contest at Silver Cross Field. Kansas City will send Hank Woodman (3-2, 6.64) to the mound to face Joliet’s David Manning (3-4, 5.51).