By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs avenged their lone loss of the season to the Kansas City Monarchs, taking down the Monarchs on Thursday evening at Phil Welch Stadium 10-1 in the third matchup of the season between the two teams.
The Monarchs scored their lone run of the game in the third inning as former Mustang Will Dryburgh singled to right field, scoring Morgan Johann. In the bottom half of the inning was when the Mustangs took the lead, what turned out for good, as Benton alum Chris Coy singled to right driving in Savannah alum Truman Bodenhausen to tie the game, before Coy scored on a single by Jack Mosh for the 2-1 lead.
Three runs scored in the fifth inning, which started with Coy, who walked to open the inning, scored on a balk. In just his second game since joining the team, Easton Phillipe singled to drive in Mosh, and scored himself later in the inning on a single by Tyler Gundelfinger. One more run scored in the sixth inning on a groundout by Trevor McCollum, bringing home Logan Miller to push the lead to 6-1.
St. Joseph continued their scoring run in the seventh inning, adding another three runs. Phillipe was walked, but on a wild pitch Justin George raced home to score. Phillipe advanced to third base on a single by Gundelfinger, and then scored on a balk, with Gundelfinger moving to second. A groundout by Bodenhausen moved Gundelfinger to third base, and yet another balk brought him home to score, extending the lead to 9-1.
Phillipe drove in the final run in the bottom of the eighth inning on an RBI double, scoring Mosh. In the ninth inning, to close out the game, Max Pitts struck out the side in order.
Phillipe was 2-for-4 at the plate, driving in two runs. Coy and Gundelfinger were also 2-for-4 batting, each driving in one run. On the mound, Michael Infranca earned the win, pitching two innings of relief giving up one hit. East Buchanan alum, and recent transfer to Northwest Missouri State University, Gage Busby pitched two innings and struck out two, walking one.
The Mustangs are now 9-1 on the season. They return to MINK League action tomorrow, taking on the Carroll Merchants at Phil Welch Stadium. First pitch is at 7pm, gates open at 5:30.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
