By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs battled back from a six run deficit to earn a hard fought MINK League victory, beating the Carroll Merchants 10-8 on Saturday night at Phil Welch Stadium.
The Merchants got to East Buchanan alum Bronco Whitt in the third inning, making his second start of the season, for six runs in the inning. A triple by Fernando Espinal driving in three of those, scoring Gavin Gonzalez, Nolan Oliver, and Sammy Harris. Espinal scored on a single by Aiden Eggers, and Eggers came home on a double by Martin Smith. Jakob Jeske followed Smith’s double with a double of his own, driving in the sixth run scoring Smith.
The Mustangs started to rally back in the bottom half of the inning with three runs, the first scoring on a wild pitch with Savannah alum Truman Bodenhausen coming across home plate. A double by Dom Felix drove in Logan Miller and Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart, but Felix ended up being thrown out attempting to advance to third base.
In the fourth, St Joseph got Whitt a no decision tying up the game, Bodenhausen reaching on a fielders choice and driving in Lafayette alum Jayden Little, before Luikart delivered the tying runs with a two RBI singled, scoring Bodenhausen and Easton Phillipe. Then in the fifth inning, the Mustangs took their first lead of the game Phillipe scoring again, this time on a single by Bodenhausen.
The Merchants refused to let the Mustangs slip away though, tying the game up again in the seventh inning, Smith hitting an RBI single to score Espinal. Again in the bottom half of the inning, St. Joseph took the lead, a Tyler Gundelfinger driving in Phillipe for the third time on the night, this time for an unearned run.
In the eighth inning, Carroll once again tied the game up on a sacrifice fly by Harris, scoring Jack Luthren. In the bottom of the inning, the Mustangs got all the insurance they needed though, a sacrifice fly by Benton alum Chris Coy driving in Miller, before Felix scored the final run of the game on a balk.
East Buchanan alum Gage Busby earned the win after finishing out the eighth inning and the game, pitching 1 1/3 innings and striking out two while walking two. At the plate, Gundelfinger was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Felix was 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI’s, and two walks. The Mustangs were outhit in the matchup 9 to 5 by the Merchants.
The Mustangs matchup with Carroll again tomorrow, this time on the road as they begin a three game road trip, which includes a double header with two seven inning games against Chillicothe on Tuesday.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
