VALMEYER -- The hitting woes of the Belleville Rockies continued Sunday at Borsch Park.
McKendree University standout Dakota Schutt held the Rockies in check in a five-inning pitching stint, while Matt Steckmeyer highlighted an early outburst with a three-run double as Valmeyer defeated Belleville 6-3 to salvage a split in a Mon-Clair League doubleheader.
Silenced by Belleville starter Chipper Clayton and reliever Caleb Zang in a 4-2 setback in the opener, the Lakers scored three runs in both the first and second innings of the nightcap to pull away early.
Schutt, meanwhile, held Belleville scoreless on just four hits before tiring in the sixth and giving way to his bullpen.
Belleville coach Marcus Barriger said the Rockies are a much better hitting team than what they've shown.
"It's frustrating. I think we had four or five hits in the second game, and that's not going to get it done,'' Barriger said. "We know we're a better hitting team than what we've shown lately. We simply need to hit the ball like we're capable.''
Leading 3-0, the Lakers scored three more times in the second on a two-run double by Scott Sittel and a Rockies error.
"We got a couple of timely base hits to drive in some runs in the second game and we were able to get a good pitching performance out of Dakota (Schutt),'' Lakers manager Dennis Pieper said. "He (Schutt) kind of ran out of gas there a little bit late, but we were able to get him through five innings. He did a nice job.''
Belleville (6-6) cut the lead in half on a three-run home run from Evan Zalders in the sixth, but could get no closer.
In the opener, the Rockies got a two-run homer from Kevin Sangiolo and a solo shot from Dan Munoz along with a run-scoring single from ex-Gateway Grizzlies standout Mike Breyman to lead the way.
Clayton and Zang did the rest as they limited the Lakers to just six hits.
John Rheinecker had a run-scoring single while Justin Lilly pounded out a solo homer for the Lakers in the opening-game loss.
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