By MATT PIKE
The Sedalia Bombers rallied back from behind, and had the tying run at third base in the ninth inning, but the St. Joseph Mustangs held on to get a win on the Fourth of July at Phil Welch Stadium, beating the Bombers 7-6, remaining perfect on their short three game homestand.
A sacrifice fly by Dom Felix put the Mustangs on the board first in the first inning, driving in Trevor McCollum for the opening run. But the Bombers tied things up in the second inning with an RBI single by Caden Paxton, bringing home Jadyn Roberts for the 1-1 tie. The Mustangs pulled away over the next three innings, scoring six unanswered runs.
Three runs scored in the third inning, starting with McCollum doubling to left field and driving in Darius Freeman. McCollum scored himself on a single by Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart, and later in the inning Luikart came home for a run, that turned unearned due to a throwing error by pitcher Gavin Killion, scoring as Justin George reached on a fielders choice.
In the fourth inning, Freeman extended the lead with an RBI double, driving in Tyler Gundelfinger. The final two runs were added in the fifth inning as Gundelfinger was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home Felix, before George scored as Freeman reached first on a fielders choice, giving the Mustangs a 7-1 lead.
The sixth inning started Sedalia’s rally back as Paxton grounded out to first base bringing home Dalton Miller. In the seventh three more runs scored continuing the comeback bid, two coming home on a double by Miller as he drove in Carter Rice and Lance Vickers. Miller later scored on a double to left field by Connor Rice. Then in the eighth, the Bombers finally cut the lead to one as Sam Russo singled home Chris Miller.
Unable to add any runs in the bottom of the eighth, Sedalia stepped to the plate looking to tie the game in the ninth, and had a chance as Miller was hit by a pitch, and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Connor Rice singled, moving Miller to third, and Rice stole second base putting both the tying and go ahead runs in scoring position, but after Roberts struck out swinging, Miller was thrown out at home, being replaced at third base by Rice. Still in danger of the tie, Mustangs reliever Diego De Santiago forced Paxton to ground out to end the game.
East Buchanan alum Gage Busby earned the win in relief, after starter Jaren Guck of Northwest Missouri State failed to qualify for a decision. Busby pitched two innings and gave up one run on no hits, walking three and striking out one. At the plate, Freeman was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI’s. George was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Luikart was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, a walk, and an RBI.
The Mustangs are now 22-5 on the year, 17-4 in the MINK League. They wrap up a three game homestand tomorrow against the Clarinda A’s. The resumption of a suspended game against the A’s will begin at 5:30 with the game tied 3-3 in the ninth inning, before the game the Police vs Fire game will take place at 4pm.
The originally scheduled game will have first pitch at 7pm.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
