By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs battled back and forth with the Jefferson City Renegades, but a big fourth inning helped put St. Joseph on top for good as the Mustangs won 13-8 at Phil Welch Stadium on Friday night.
In rare fashion, the Mustangs had to play from behind for most of the game, as the Renegades scored two runs in the first inning, Lucas Weitholder doubling to score Ethan Millius and Alex DiGicianto bringing home Weitholder with a single. Another two scored in the second inning as Millus singled to bring home Conner Flieg and P.J. Green scored on a throwing error for a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the second inning, the Mustangs were able to cut the Renegades lead to one. Logan Miller singled with the bases loaded to drive in Northwest Missouri State’s Parker Griffith and Trevor McCollum before Lafayette alum Jayden Little came home to score on a throwing error, cutting the lead to 4-3.
But the Renegades continued to pull away from St. Joseph, Ben Miller singling to left in the third inning and driving in two more runs as Maddox Meier and Drew Vonder Harr. A sacrifice fly by Green scored Tyler Towe to extend the lead. In the bottom half of the inning however, the Mustangs got those runs back, Jack Mosh tripling to score Dom Felix, and then scoring as McCollum reached on a fielders choice. McCollum came home to score on a throwing error after Griffith reached first on a fielding error.
St. Joseph blew the lead open in the fourth inning with a six run frame though, taking the lead for good. McCollum gave the Mustangs their first lead of the game with a two RBI single driving in Mosh and Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart. Later in the inning on a wild pitch, Benton alum Chris Coy scored, before with the bases later loaded Miller was hit by a pitch to bring home McCollum. The final touches were put on the inning with another two RBI single, this time by Darius Freeman, to score Griffith and Little, for a 12-7 Mustangs lead.
St. Joseph added their final run in the eight inning, with McCollums fourth RBI of the day, another single driving in Mosh. Jefferson City scored their final run in the ninth inning on a wild pitch with Towe coming home to score.
Caden Carter took the win in relief for the Mustangs, pitching three shutout innings from the bullpen, striking out two and walking two. At the plate, McCollum was 3-for-5 with two stolen bases and four RBIs while Mosh was 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, and three runs scored.
The Mustangs are now 15-2 on the season, and 10-1 in the MINK league, they wrap up a three game homestand 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.
