By JOSH HOUCHINS

Herald-Whig Sports Writer

All Michael Adamson wanted was one close call.

But, unfortunately for the relief pitcher and his Quincy Gems teammates, it never came.

Adamson surrendered a two-run single in the top of the ninth to Dubois County's Wes Fink, blowing the save and eventually the game as the Gems could not rally in the bottom half of the inning to fall 4-3 Friday night at QU-Stadium.

"It was the pitch I wanted," Adamson said of the 2-2 pitch to Fink with two on and two outs.

"(Catcher Justin) Dunning sat inside with the fastball and I put it right there and we didn't get the call. I thought it was a perfect pitch."

The loss is costly for the Gems (17-24 overall, 7-10 second half), who sit in last place in the second-half standings. The winner of the second half will automatically gain a spot in the Central Illinois Collegiate League championship series against first-half winner Springfield.

"Even though it's a loss, it shows our character," Quincy third baseman Jon Myers said. "We battled down to the very end and didn't get some things to go our way. It was a good game for us to show what we could do, but we need to post some wins."

It was also another recond-tying night for Myers, who connected on his 12th home run of the year, a solo shot to left in the seventh to give Quincy a 3-2 advantage.

Myers, who owns the Gems record for homers in a season, tied Jeff Evans' 1978 home run mark in a season for a Quincy summer league franchise with 12.

"It's neat to know I'm up there in the Quincy record book," said Myers, who has seven more home runs than the next highest player in the CICL. "I was looking to square up the ball and it felt really good. I got the pitch I wanted and it helped put the team on top late to give us a chance."

Myers finished 2 for 4 with two RBI, while Dunning added two hits and Kenny Burns added an RBI for the Gems, who seemingly got a little caught up in a heated contest that saw an ejection and warnings throughout the night.

Quincy manager Chris Martin was ejected in the top of the sixth for arguing an attempted steal by the Bombers, while multiple players were warned for arguing calls on the bases.

"Things didn't go our way tonight but you cannot start playing against the umpires," said assistant coach Pat Evers, who took over for Martin. "Once you start doing that, you'll lose every time. You have to keep a level head.

"Borderline pitches happen. You have to come right back and make a better one and not let things rattle you."

The Bombers (15-27, 8-10) took an early 1-0 lead in the second on a leadoff solo homer by Eric Hanlon.

A Sam Konnoff run-scoring single in the fourth pushed the Dubois County lead to 2-0, as starter Chase Joiner dominated on the mound.

In his first start of the year, Joiner -- who had made 14 relief appearances -- did not allow a hit through the first four innings.

Tyler Goodro's leadoff double off Joiner in the fifth finally put the Gems in the hit column. Myers' subsequent double down the left field line broke up Joiner's shutout as well, scoring Goodro to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Following a walk and sacrifice bunt by Dunning, Burns grounded out to short to score Myers and tie the game.

Quincy starter Chris Conner worked through early problems to allow two runs on five hits in six innings. The lefty struck out three and walked three.

The Gems return to action tonight to complete the two-game set with Dubois County at QU-Stadium. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m.